Played X4 on launch and didn’t get super into it… Need to go back and see how they’ve smoothed things out.
Absolutely LOVED the X3 games, spent so much time in Albion Prelude.
I recommend the X series to anyone that mentions they enjoy space sims, oddly very few have ever heard of it.
I try hard not to do things that are too cheaty too. Ruins the fun for me as well, however - convenience type things like increasing the money a shop has so I don’t have to wait a billion times to sell stuff? Bet your ass.