Ocean knows how to create and write characters with real emotions and bonds. Helen, Leia, Katie - they're all "real" in their own ways, and interesting. Same, in lighter form, goes for the side characters. That's the true charm of his games.
The scene in the club was great and impactful. I feel we are getting some new / better information than we had in the previous iteration of the game.
But man it felt short for the time it was in development, and there's A LOT that's going to happen before we get to the point where the first game stopped. No amount of hardware upgrading is going to fix the snail pace at which this is going. The problem is not the PC/s, it's the person that's using them.
It's a shame WiaB is getting the short end of the stick. It is a more grown up and deeper game than SG is. I envy those who will discover WiaB in 10 years or so - when the story is about halfway done, but rich in content (hopefully). At that point my interest in it will probably have waned. People aren't waiting for Winds of Winter anymore, and many won't care when the court hearing starts in EP 7, 8 or whatever in 2028 or so.
I played the "full" first iteration of this game in one sitting, late at night, and I fear that no game will ever suck me in like this one did.