Why weren't the vanguard told about the taken? That's weird! Why would the Awoken just attack them and be secretive about it? And also, what the shit happened to the queen? Is she dead? Where's her brother? Weird loose ends there.

I agree with one of your parting sentiments; it does feel like Bungie really put effort in here. The normal game, to me now, feels like a rat rod. A fast, powerful car that is just a bunch of stuff you pulled off junkers. Great motor, fun to drive, but the radio only gets AM and there's no power steering. Now we're getting some quality of life stuff put in.

So I noticed something in the opening cutscene. The projectiles that the queen shoots at the dreadnought, there are 7 of them :-)

Also, I hadn't noticed until afterwards that they are dragging the ring-rocks behind them.