Barring a few seconds, it costs you nothing to save and the benefits are pretty clear, so there really isn't such a thing as saving 'too much'

It's not admitting it's bad, it's understanding that there are flaws and that those are the flaws that make other people dislike the game/book/song/movie/show. We don't accept that what we like or what we consider good, is flawed or has flaws as well.

Take RDR2 for example. I loved it. So did the critics, so did millions, but many gamers simply did not. Why? 'Horse-riding simulator'. Hearing this, the fanboys come running in defense of their beloved game, oh the characters, the narrative, the worldbuilding and the graphics. All true of course but what's also true is that you do in fact, spend half the time on horseback riding around. This is objectively true. And I, as a fan, can see why for some it just doesn't appeal.

>That would feel a whole lot like that 2/10 isn't actually based on my opinion of the thing, but rather some other arbitrary standard I've imagined for it.

It's not arbitrary, it's acknowledging that the flaws do in fact exist. You may not mind them at all and have a great experience but this does not take them away. You enjoying Forpsoken immensely thanks to the spell depth and combat does not take away from the fact that the open world is lacking. For you, that may not have been much of factor because you just don't care and therefore say it's a 7/10. Another person may hate Forspoken for exactly that reason and say it's a 2/10.

We take criticism for things beloved poorly because we hold them on a pedestal and deem them flawless in our eyes. Either I like a bland open world or you are wrong. Either I like the 'horse-riding simulator' or you are wrong. Either I like shallow combat system or you are wrong. You can enjoy things that you enjoy for the reason you enjoy them, but others won't for their reasons. The average person just doesn't have the self-esteem to like what they like despite all things which is why there's so much toxicity around media of all forms.

This a good worldview however objectively true (and untrue) things do exist as well.

Sekiro is another great example. The game inherently demands you master, not just learn, but truly master it's unique combat system. There is no grind for xp like previous souls games to bail you out and so lots of players embraced the challenge and finished the game and found an unparalleled sense of achievement, however others could not come to terms with their inability to master the combat and therefore began blaming the game for being 'too hard' rather than coming to terms with the fact that they were simply, at that point, unable to master the system.

I myself haven't beaten the game because of exactly this reason. It's far easier to blame something else than to accept your own inability or failure and work on it. It can't be, it just cannot be that I'm not good enough or that I couldn't get the combat, therefore its the games fault.

Edit : Spelling

It has to do with the fact that we can't admit we enjoy what we enjoy for mundane reasons. It's okay to enjoy a bland open world with nothing to do like Forspoken or checklist open worlds like AC Valhalla. They're mediocre sure but no fan admits this because this means they enjoy mediocrity and that is an unacceptable thought, so self preservation kicks in and you get a less than polite reaction.

This isn't limited to games either, it applies to practically everything. I had a decent time with the Uncharted movie, it was absolute garbage, but I had a decent time nonetheless cause it was mindless fun. However I'd never recommend it to anyone cause I know it's like a 2/10 at best and is a waste of time. It's just that I personally on that day, didn't mind the movie being braindead and can accept that it was garbage that I had fun with.

It's a reboot. In terms of 'canon', it's unrelated to the original MW trilogy. The characters exist but in an entirely universe/timeline. This is what a reboot is.

Luke the Ninja Theory Devil May Cry Reboot in 2013. Or like every superhero game, movie, comic ever. You play the current Spiderman and see how it's unrelated to other Spiderman games and media, albeit with the same characters ie Peter Parker, Aunt May, Mary Jane, Miles Morales, etc.