Being a long time player (40 years) role playing growth of the PC is important to me. Every PC has a background and backstory and motivation different from all others, and plenty of things to do during downtime.
The goals and motivations are a great addition, although ignored by many who see the PC through the video game lens, where it’s all about advancement in concrete, identifiable ways and finding gear to make you better.
What I find unique is many players want to play this way but don’t know how. In my campaign for my sons and their friends I use a little more early medieval historical model, where full plate is extremely rare and essential not purchasable (and unknown in most areas of the world) and Chain Mail is considered the heavy armor of elites. Immediately the PCs became consumed with finding the knowledge of armors and people who can make it.
To go along with this I also increased the damage and greatly increased the rarity of crossbows, this became an obsession also.