I had a pretty good time with the game. Waiting for my buddy to get to end game to pick it back up again. Wrote my thoughts here. https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/outriders-is-finally-a-looter-shooter-that-doesnt-waste-my-time/
Agreed with all points, though I havent really enjoyed any Borderlands game after the first one. After the original borderlands they made the gun and skill upgrades far more incremental and it became an unenjoyable chore for me of struggling through battles trying to find gun that feel "good", where as every time I get improved guns in outriders, I'm faced with a new exciting puzzle of how to rebuild my entire character around this new schema or to remod the gun to fit how I like to play. I love feeling I have options.
I played through Division and Destiny, but got bored with both maybe 10 hours in at best because they felt very ..shallow. Like it felt very chore like. Like I was punching a clock. I know I know Outriders has a stupid gears of war whatever story, but I'm invested and curious to see how it plays out, where as with Destiny and division...fuck I honestly don't remember. Destiny was something something bunch of races at war and all your missions...help? Division had something to do with retaking new york, but after recycling a piece of equipment with minute upgrades every 5 minutes for hour straight I just got exhausted and dropped. I don't like games that feel like a day job.