I agree with OP
A17 is about the removal of almost all choice.
Want XP while building? No (frame block upgrade only)
Want XP from mining? Not really... a few points but you will never advance in the game towards new perks. Oh, and good luck finding resources anyway.
Want XP from trading? Less things are worth anything, and XP is less too. Enjoy
Want XP from crafting? Nope
Want XP? Kill Zs, that is it. Enjoy all your options.
Want to build? Zs destroy blocks way faster making it almost worthless to build or upgrade
Want to build? Material harvesting is slower and your stamina is ♥♥♥♥
Want to build? It will take you 2-3 times as long to level to concrete and steel, and that is if you don't make a balanced character.
Want to build? Even many wooded blocks are gated behind the workbench, and heck those are just aesthetic.
Want to build? No we didn't think so.
Want to travel? You stamina is ♥♥♥♥
Want to travel? The map is smaller
Want to travel? The snow and desert biomes are bigger blobs and your clothing doesn't really protect you any more (please refer back to stamina)
Want to travel? Maybe one day, after a hundred real hours, you will have a "new" motorized toy. Better not restart your game.
Want to travel? So much more fun!
Want to kill Zs? We have you covered
Want to kill Zs? We have turned it into the grind mechanism... basically like turning you hobby into your dayjob. Kind of takes the fun out of it.
Want to play alone? No you don't
Want to play alone? PIO are balanced for Multi-enjoy
Want to play alone? Leveling to get you what you need for mid-game should only take 20-30 hours real time.
Want to play alone? Git Good! Be a real "man"! You sux! Whiner.
Have any issue with A17? Prepared to be shouted down by a vocal minority.
Have any issue with A17? It is just experimental/beta/alpha/Tuesday... stop expecting things.
Have any issue with A17? They will tell you to mod (of course you can't mod individually if you are joining multi; see playing alone above)
Want to build a stilt house? Nope
Want to build underground? Nope
Want to build in a POI? Zs will chew through it like swiss cheese
Want to choose a different POI for Zs to destroy each 7 day? Wow, what a fun game with choices!
Show me one Z movie or comic where Zs destroy like the do in A17. Steel doors in 5 minutes: gone. Steel walls in 3 minutes: gone. Meter thick reinforced concrete slabs: Gone before I finished this sentence.
Want to restart a new game? Do you really want the initial grind? It's won;t be nearly as fun the second time.
I DO NOT HATE A17... but for the greatness it adds, TFP also added a year of spite against a community that found ways to "beat" their game. I do not enjoy many of the changes because they add grind and decrease choice. It decreases the variety of play styles. It forces Multi-player. And finally, I believe it takes away fun for a MAJORITY of the players. And finally...