Same.
The mechanics and gameplay loop for Factorio are great, it's just that it's ultimately wasted on a game about making green and red pots.
isn't that the point? its like saying the mechanics and gameplay loop for dwarf fortress is great but its wasted on a game about making socks
To a point, but as a counterexample of what I was expecting the game to be like, I was assuming that it would be a lot more building intermediate components that were needed in large quantities for later components, and / or setting up mining and processing facilities to produce stuff in large quantities to achieve mission objectives. Something like producing 5,000 gears or circuit boards, or 10,000 rounds of ammo while balancing production against using up ammo in defensive turrets.
It does do that to a point in I think one mission, but so far the majority of the game appears to be figuring out how to make green and red potions to stick in domes to unlock technologies which need blue or other potions to unlock.
I think my biggest surprise and disappointment was the almost entire lack of a campaign. That's what I assume will change when it's finished, but right now I think it's just 4 missions, of which one is a combat only mission and one is a tutorial. Then free build mode, which I haven't tried yet.