Destiny IS fun to play, but there are too many time-consuming and time-conflicting tasks that get in the way of MORE fun, that it's becoming frustrating at times (and the Halo 5 Beta is actually not terrible right off the bat, so there IS competition for my time).

I am really enjoying doing only nightfall, heroic, and raids. Not doing the daily story or bounties is really great and I don't feel like I'm wasting my time anymore.

Because Destiny is a casino with guns and activities instead of slot machines, roulette wheels, and card tables. You bet time instead of money, and can play coop with your friends.

Think about it. Patrol is the penny slot machines, the raids are the high roller blackjack tables.

In a way, it's not even in the same genre as Halo.

Yes but my point is that doesn't matter, when you simplify the equation to "if it's fun, I'll play it". I would play just as much, and have more fun (and maybe play more as a result) even if acquiring fancier stuff was "easier" and took a fraction of the current leveling-time to max out. I just don't get how the current drag-it-on system is "better" than one that rewards you "quicker". So what if I max everything out in a week? If it's FUN, I'll KEEP PLAYING.

Destiny IS fun to play, but there are too many time-consuming and time-conflicting tasks that get in the way of MORE fun, that it's becoming frustrating at times (and the Halo 5 Beta is actually not terrible right off the bat, so there IS competition for my time).

Can you think of any other games with a similar enough reward system, that was quicker, that you still play because it's fun?

I'm also wondering how we can be sure the reward system doesn't influence us to keep playing when we might otherwise might. I mean running around in patrols is cool, but that's because I'm gonna finish a bunch of bounties and earn XP to get that cool Titan mark I want. Otherwise I'm just like why bother.

Asking myself this question at least as much as anyone. Thinking I'm just ok with it, and that I should never actually get into gambling. :P

Destiny has been my biggest time sink as of late; and can see it getting to Skyrim or Civ5 levels of playtime. But those aren't really the same are they. Hmm. I'm rambling now.

so why would I assume they'd take a different approach with Destiny?

Because all the evidence suggests that they have. I agree it wasn't needed with Halo, and frankly I don't think it was needed with Destiny either, but nevertheless, it's what they've done.

I'm starting to understand the point that Halo had a better signal to noise ratio. The SC to AotCR run with a TB finisher was just so consistently awesome. Destiny doesn't really have anything like that; though some of the missions are pretty awesome (the strike on the Winter Ship, the Black Garden, Omnigul's strike).

*mulls ideas around in his head*

If all the missions were as fun as Assault on the Control Room, would Assault on the Control Room stand out like it does?

Exactly. Destiny has a huge amount of geometry and play space, but most of it is either scenery for when you whip by on your sparrow, or wasted on mediocre missions. Halo simply does more with less. Destiny should be doing more with more.