I'll admit I have no idea if you just made up those names or if their for specific games
I think the difference is context of the game. i've mentioned this several times in likely multiple threads. We're shortly after the end of the world otherwise most buildings wouldn't have power. Why would a store not have modern weapons?
In rpg games, they're made that way and always have been, however, there are also TONNES of RPG games that you can buy on day one the uber swords if you have the money. However, you don't likely have the money nor are you going to have the money for a very long time. Although, in many rpg games you still may not have the strength or ability to wield such powerful weapons, or magics. That logic we can deal with. Also the level restriction for using the weapons is another reason I just plain got bored of rpg games. World of Warcraft was like that, specific swords having a level restriction right on it and you could just carry it around in your backpack until you finally hit the specific level.
The RPG games that show you OP weapons at the trader also make absolutely sure you can't buy them. All these RPGs make sure you have for example about 5000 gold in your pocket when you are level 8. And guess what weapons can be bought for 5000 gold? Weapons suitable for level 8. Only later in those games you tend to swim in money (and are too high level) because the game has to be balanced for people who just follow the main quest, a problem most RPGs just accept as unsolvable. But you still can't really buy OP weapons because the cost function increases exponential to make sure you never can just buy a sword made for someone 5 levels higher than you are.
But you already know this as well. This type of window dressing without actually having a game-play relevevant impact depends on a very constricted money pool. At the moment the trader in 7D2D still has OP weapons and the money pool is not constricted. When the 7D2D developers are convinced they have closed all easy money-making loopholes they don't need to change that part of the game at all. We'll see what happens.
But we are talking about immersion. You say you can deal with a logic where you can't even wield specific weapons because of strength. Well, it works with strength, but what about the mage that can't use a rapier, AT ALL. I don't think that could be explained away.
There are abstractions we simply have accepted over time and don't view as problematic for immersion anymore, but new abstractions, like when a new alpha comes around the corner, need time before they get the same status.
And there are a lot of abstractions most players don't even think anymore about in 7D2D: We accept a lot of physics specialities in 7D2D, for example SI rules, falling from greater heights as usual (yes, even without candy), strange medicine (everything can be cured basically in a day), the world being blocky, loot respawning, you can't wear two shirts over each other, crafting in your backpack!!, ...
This is not a simulation. It was never advertised as a simulation and complaints about this being no simulation are rather useless. If you want a simulation, there are other survival games out there that put more importance on this.
I hate WoW's method as well, especially because in later installments you couldn't do quest above your level anymore even if the quests on your level were frustratingly easy.
This game is different. It's you, in a world that has ended while we already have guns and what not around. We're not trying to get the latest r7-2000 Laser rifle because that's just not a thing. A shotgun is, a rifle is, and so are Ak-47's apparently since we're basing this game in the states. So if a trader didn't have firearms, they're either all sold out or not a very good trader. And using any of these weapons shouldn't be a restriction as a shotgun blast to the face of a zombie if you are 12 years old or 50 years old will have the same result... unless you miss for some bizarre reason. Your "skill" with that weapon doesn't determine the damage it does, the weapon and the shell do. As long as you're capable of aiming it and maintaining that aim the gun does the rest.
Now if you go to the trader and see mainly stone weapons and tools, that's a dumb dumb game decision for this type of game. This is not a Real Time Strategy game, we're not dumping crap loads of research into a science division that will magically (or sciencely) break a barrier and allow for us to get the next tier or weapons or technology. That's just simply not a good mechanic for 7d2d.
No, there is a lot of magic or occult stuff happening in 7D2D. Starting with the very obviously occult blood moon visible in the sky every 7 days.
The stone stuff put lots of people on the barricades just like the availability of OP weapons on day 1 in A18 put a lot of people on the barricades, the first remedy has already been announced. We will get pipe weapons. Is that very realistic? No, not really. Is it a good mechanic? I'd say it is definitely better than AK on day 1.
It is clear the direction of the game is not to your liking. But RPG as part of the mix was always planned for this game from the time of the kickstarter. For a simulation a lot of features in the game are not a good mechanic. For an RPG-zombie-survival-tower-defense game they are. You have to agree to disagree with the developers here.
I get the pimps are trying to add all these rpg elements to the game. hell I don't even use the candy I think they're stupid. It's really moving from a survival game into the not sure how but I feel so much better at bartering with this here candy in my mouth and this cigar. To me, these elements don't make a better game, they make the game feel silly.
But each to their own. I can avoid using them. You may feel you need to use it or like these elements.
And 7d2d is quickly as you said "moving towards where every other game already is." And that is the problem. It's losing it's uniqueness and become lame copies of these other games that have been done to death. It was a shining example of a great game already, they just needed to flesh out some things and add content. But here we are, trying to be like everyone else. That's boring. That sucks. Go be you the best damn Barney you can be.
I disagree. 7D2D was already very near to where most of the survival simulation games were. The uniqueness and novelty of 7D2D was its mix of genres (especially its voxel-based building). It is the shortcoming of other survival games that they feel rather limited.
