I haven't played Shroud of the Avatar, and have only read the reviews of it on Steam, but I don't think I'm a typical Steam gamer, if only because I'm much older and have played many of the original Ultimas when they came out. Still, the Steam reviews, if they are to be believed, make Shroud of the Avatar sound like a gigantic disappointment.
Garriott does not seem to want to take any of the criticisms seriously, and never really addresses any of the really deep criticisms, of which there are many. He just brushes them off with a few words about the game looking "unfinished, unpolished, with only a few weapons and an obtuse UI".
The impression I'm left with is that either he's in denial or hundreds of negative Steam reviewers are fools or exquisite liars. I really doubt the latter is the case, and don't hold out much hope for this game, though I'd love to see Garriott emerge triumphant and for Shroud of the Avatar to become a groundbreaking classic like his early games.