I have to agree, I couldn't play SH3 for ages until a patch was released. And didn't bother with SH4 for a very long time due to game breaker bugs. SH5 actually feels possibly more playable out-of-the-box than the previous two releases IMHO.
As with realism and the campaign. Firstly, the game does have some realism problems (AI grounding themselves...for one!) however I find the actual experience of being in the Uboot (Modded game) to feel quite real. My only fustration comes from the crew. For example, last night after attacking a particularly tasty convoy I was attacked by 4 Destroyers. The DCing lasted for over 3 hours and was only able to escape by exceeding test depth and crawling away. I was tense, my crew, however, didn't appear to notice that anything at-all had just happened, perhaps they're all deaf and blind!
Secondly, the campaign. Whilst entertaining at times, it's obviously designed for those people who need to be told exactly where to go, who to shoot, and when to go to the toilet! Its a little annoying since as far as I'm aware, real Uboot Commanders orders we something like 'Patrol grid AM31 for x days and await orders" The boat would go out to its designated patrol grid (usually with other uboots stationed relatively near by) and sink targets of opportunity if encountered, or wait until a convoy was reported and given orders from Dönitz to proceed and join the hunt! The entire grand plan of Dönitz was not to attack specific battle ships or carriers, often heavily guarded. But to attack and sink merchant shipping and bring Britain down to it's knees! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not aware of Dönitz ever ordering uboots to search out and attack any single warship!
Still, its funny to imagine the conversation between the commander and Dönitz after the mission if this type of campaign was accurate;
Dönitz: So, you fail me again!
Commander: But Sir! I sank over 48000 tons or mercheant shipping!
Dönitz: HA! Care not I do! they were all ships carrying small arms from America, you were ordered to sink ships carrying shells from Canada! To ze dungeons for you!
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