I’ll be honest, it kinda sounds like you went in with a pre-formed opinion and expectation and fulfilled that. I played shortly after release without looking at any reviews or the online discourse about the game, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The bugs were there, sure, but nothing that broke the game or ruined my experience. The driving criticism seems strange, considering that the driving was one of my favorite parts of cyberpunk, especially now that it’s been tuned after release. Sure, it’s no simulator, but cruising around the city and listening to music is pretty seamless and enjoyable. And melee combat is awesome?? Mantis claws or gorilla arms and you’re tearing through enemies. I managed to be very immersed, cruising through the desert while listening to Morro Rock after an emotional scene with some of my favorite characters elicited some powerful feelings of wistfulness and melancholy.

Obviously, this is all just my opinion, but I formed it organically through playing the game. I didn’t go in with any expectations, and while I have a lot of criticism for the game’s glaring issues, your criticisms seem rooted in confirmation bias of other people’s opinions more than the real experience of the game’s current state. I would definitely say it’s worth the money now, though release maybe not for those that aren’t massive fans of the setting.