and I would recommend it on those merits except the base game is such a hollow shell that the overall experience isn't worth it without the DLCs. Yet the DLCs are such absurd cash grabs that I literally cannot recommend them.

Roughly with every currently released DLC, upto Charters of Commerce, the game feels like a complete game. This means that the DLC do not feel like they are adding to the game, they feel like they are mandatory for this to be a complete game instead of a hollow shell.

This basically translate into this not being a '$50' game but it basically being a $140 game...
While one may say this is a Paradox Standard, Paradox didn't used to charge $20 to $30 for minor additions. It used to be $3 to $8, with the really large additions being maybe $12.

It's a better game than Civ7.

They sold the Crossroad Collection for $30, but then they decided to break it apart and sell each piece for $5...
There are 7 "pieces" in Crossroads Collection, which means the new total is $35

This Collection was already not worth $30, but they found a way to nickle and dime you for another $5

Not expansionist despite every single bonus being about expanding.

They sold the Crossroad Collection for $30, but then they decided to break it apart and sell each piece for $5...
There are 7 "pieces" in Crossroads Collection, which means the new total is $35

This Collection was already not worth $30, but they found a way to nickle and dime you for another $5

What a scam price and scam amount of content
This should be half the price and actually include real content

Not to mention the game is broken
They are selling overpriced dlc to a broken game