I think it is a failure of imagination to want a TTRPG experience to be exactly like some other medium. TTRPGs are their own thing, and while not every genre or playstyle makes things like gear important, I am of the opinion that trying to plan attacks against space-Nazi opponents kind of...
I mean, "We want to go to Sigil," vs "This campaign is set in ancient Ireland."
There is a line. "The GM says No," can't be the definition of "railroading". That is just silly.
I wonder if they did a second edition if they would abandon the 3 game format. I did not follow it closely but it seemed like the last couple years there were more and more supplements not specific to any one line.
General Update: Since I gave them their forks back to leave the feywild any time they want, they have decided to stay and doo the adventure I prepared anyway.
For the record, i just reloaded Skyrim. I actually have not played a vanilla run since the Anniversary Edition dropped, so it should entertain me for a while anyway.
No license deal lasts forever.
Also, if the money is right I don't see why they would not sub out the TTRPG. That is to say, if someone is willing to pay more than they would make from selling reprints. Which i can't imagine would be difficult.
At this point I am trying to see if there is a wabbajack modlist for Skyrim SE that gives me what I am looking for without making me slof through the same old Skyrim.
That is refreshing. I would have been happy in this campaign if when i pitched the "player driven open world" they would have responded with "no thanks; give us the plot". But alas.