i think overall: Todd needed to see what other space games were doing, X series, Star Citizen (for what it's worth, it's still ambitious), and of course, No Man's Sky. i think that would've influenced things for the better in some direction. Yes, Todd needs to play video games. :B
Todd also needs to look into a new engine that isn't so heavily cell-based that can handle streaming larger areas in and out as needed without loading screens and that doesn't handle conversations so goddamn badly. The narrative bones of Starfield were great, though!
if they were clever and at least masked *some* of the loading screens.. (like having you sit through the FTL sequences), reception of those would've been better, if a little meme-y.