I get it - you only punch the tiny trees, or just pick up branches and skip right to an axe :) But the progression / natural draw of discovering new things to craft as you touch new items is really good. And excellent procedurally generated worlds to explore.
I wish my friends enjoyed these games, as I'd have double the hours in. Playing solo does put an upper bound to how long I enjoy them.
I'll happily chop trees and mine all day, others like farming/animal husbandry, building, cooking, foraging, etc. All of us like exploring, boating, fighting bosses together. And we're all happy to craft/upgrade/repair our stuff.