I get what you mean and tbh, I myself do not normally enjoy games like that (normally as I don't have enough time to put the effort in etc...) however, this has grabbed me for some reason. I do know that they reduced the AI element of the beta (Dark Zone...more AI will roam the streets rather than just standing there etc...) I didn't find the AI were so much bullet sponges, however, actual player characters did take more of an aimed shot to take them down, again, however, didn't really notice it take that many bullets to take them down.
I also enjoyed the added tension around extraction, especially when there were a few players milling about!
I've gone all in on this game and ordered the sleeper agent edition even before I had played the beta. Fingers crossed my faith will be rewarded