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.
the set piece can stay. the invisible leash is what needs to go. let me reach the same explosion from a different alley
good scripting should survive one wrong car and one missed turn. otherwise it is choreography pretending to be a mission
i accept one rail if the train is funny. three mission failed screens because i crossed the street early is not funny