Seriusly ? This shallow and predictible story on witch You have absolutly no impact ?
It only feels better then in other MMOs becouse here You don't have to read and You have some kind of "choise" during conversation. But it realy doesn't matter waht will You choose. In the end You will experience same story like all the other players. It's just a mind trick and You know on who it works ?
I'm preaty sure that Warhammer Online had beter story than SWTOR. I just didn't bother to read it.
And if You think that this game is not gear driven let just wait what will You say when You get to that companion quest, where You have to summon him to progress it and his compleatly naked, becouse You ware gearing up the other one.
Or try level 50 PvP without expertise.
Or operation in Your "end leveling" gear.