How the world and the story sticks with me even when I'm not playing.

I love that I have moments working on my own stuff where I stop and try to work out a timeline, or question whether a certain character is who we assume they are or just another of many variants.

That's fair; our history kinda speaks for itself. Most Americans have no idea what that history even is, as bad as that is.

That lack of awareness is a big part of how we got here so fast. As hopeless as the current situation has me feeling, maybe we come out of it a better people, and more aware.

I haven't seen any criticism for that. It seems like a perfectly apt comparison to me.

I'm not sure I actually agree that it isn't less free. I see your point, but from a practical perspective I think I would say it is in fact less free.