The mods don't detract from the value of the game. If anything, that still enhances it being worth it due to the fostering of an active and thriving modding community, something most games can only dream of having. You're grasping at straws to put down a fun game that you can get hundreds of hours out of, all to suggest that $35 isn't worth it.

I just don't get why this would be a hill to die on, when most AAA games won't get below $20 in 5 years (Rimworld being 4 years old) and you're lucky to get beyond 15 hours in most of those games, and those that do have more are exclusively open world and padded to all hell, and even that is usually less than 40 hours. Do the math. $20 for 15 hours, or $35 for 100+ hours. Sounds worth it to me.