scripted missions are not the problem

People act like every GTA mission should be a sandbox experiment. Nah. The scripted chase, the dialogue timed to the drive, the car crashing through a barrier at the exact moment you arrive, that stuff is why Rockstar missions stick in your head. Total freedom usually means the story has to react to fifty dumb possibilities and none of them get a strong payoff. I am fine following the GPS line for a story mission if the set piece is good. Free roam is where I want chaos. Missions can actually have direction.