It should also be added that while many people including myself prefer to play singleplayer and have a great time doing it, there is a noticeable multi-player/co-op focus.

As for single-player, you end up collecting and using a LOT of stuff in this game, so you need some sort of storage facility. Then there are the crafting stations which are upgraded by placing more add-ons nearby, so you need a lot of space for those. With the new H&H cooking add-ons, you now need a dedicated cooking space. And then there's the comfort level system which requires you to decorate a space with fancy items to increase the duration of your rested bonus (exploring without your rested bonus active is borderline suicidal). So what you end up with is either a huge base or a sprawling estate.