I completely understand the disappointments, but I feel like time and perspective will, and should, downplay the effect long-term.
Basically, with the Open World structure, the second half story is, what, maybe 5-10% of the play time depending on the player (yes, for some it'll be more, but ignoring the remaining content is a player's choice). And, as I've mentioned, FF games have all been timeless, at least for me. I barely remember what my first impressions were for any of them, except for FFXII, which I hated the first time through, now it's my favorite with over 1000 hours logged into (mostly) IZJS.
While there will always be a core of people who won't get over the story woes, there's a couple of other factors that could still wipe that out over the next couple of years: (Free) Patching in of some missable/forgotten details, and that it does ultimately at least come to a satisfying end, unlike the closest comparable, MGSV. With that, and expansion of Eos via patches and DLC scenarios, and support for higher end hardware (whether that be a full Pro patch or a PC release or just general improvements to frame pacing issues prevalent on the PS4) the perception of this game a year or two from now could well be very different from how it is today.
Especially with so much of the game being an acquired taste. In my experience, a lot of the gameplay-related compaints are dropping off considerably as people are getting used to them not being what they expected. A week ago, you couldn't talk about flying on any site without getting a thousand replies crying "objectively bad game design" and now, I'm seeing a backlash from people who got back in the pilot seat and got used to the concept. Nearly every aspect of the game is having similar effects. A week ago, you couldn't say JMV without adding that it's such torture to have to put yourself through, now people are getting it and seeing it for the kinda fun little FF mini-game that it is.
Or, most recently, the fishing. I had been going through like a whole roll of string on every fish, and I'm not sure some of the big fish even noticed there was someone trying to reel them in at all, the line snapped so fast. Until I read how others were doing it, and how, with finesse, you not only save a ton of durability, but the fishing game itself is much more interesting and deeper than I originally expected. Now I'm wishing I had kept up with it along the way.
They earned their 83/84 by rushing it out the door, but that doesn't mean the game is crap or anything. That some have been trying to officially bury it, NMS style, but it's not taking is a testament to that. There's a shitload of great stuff in this game to think about once you get over those initial disappointments.
