I think the makers of the X series have finally gotten it right. Though still with a few issues with space battles. (Freelancer is still the easiest to fly and combat with).
The galaxy is huge, the things you can do are even larger. Owning your own corporation, trading, or become a pirate and plunder the fat ships. I like doing both. ;)
The economy is everything I wished would have been in Freelancer (yeah I loved that game). But this one will fluctuate so you won't have those same ole back n forth and back n forth to the same planets all the time while trading.
The story? lol What story, I can't get out of open ended play mode enough to get into the story yet. ;)