I don't mean it literally. I clocked in about 100 hours over the course of the steam release to some time during Horizons. I loved the game at first but quickly got bored once the eyecandy aspect wore off, as it did for many.
One thing hardcore fans always hang onto for this game is that it's a "true sandbox" where you "set your own goals, no direction from the game." I get the appeal in that, but it doesn't work for Elite. Like, I really enjoy Bannerlord, and there are multiple different roles/styles of play that will naturally come with their own goals that I can have fun in, even if I'm not planning to do any kingdom level stuff, and the game's systems allow players to feel succesful in a variety of things. If I'm playing a viking or bandit character, I will naturally amass wealth, items, notoriety, skill in arms, more troops, etc. I get more than just new equipment, and my actions affect how the world perceives me beyond having to pay bounties.
Elite doesn't have anything like that. It provides you with the basic game systems, mining, bounty hunting, etc, and a pretty space themepark, and that's it. There's nothing to work to or accomplish other than a fatter bank account and collecting all the ships and gear for them. They tried to dress up a few other features like engineers and powerplay, but they're just the same basic roles with different rewards and different UI… It's just a grind.
So what do you do? What goals are you working towards in a game that provides you no way to interact with the game world around you?
