Acquiring things you need to thrive is survival IMO. Finding sewing kits to craft pockets, find tools to be more efficient, learning new recipes for seeds and meals is rewarding survival to me. There are over 300 new books and schematics to find that increase your chance of survival. Farm, build a fort, etc. Its completely confusing that you think the game is less survival oriented, you do all the same stuff you always did, but with a lot more to do now every day is jam packed with a massive to do list.