Player-to-Player Communication and in-game Diaglogue System

Does your computer have a mic? Some don't, but a lot of them do. If you can hear the game sounds (which is pretty much a given), then you don't need a headset (or a new headset). I have external THX 5.1 surround speakers and a directional mic. I use push-to-talk, so that other folks don't get inundated with my game sounds.

If your game sounds are via headset, you can get a cheap mic and either go hot mic (if you don't have a lot of background noise and you've calibrated your mic's sensitivity) or you can use push-to-talk to otherwise eliminate extraneous background noise that is not connected to the game sounds.

If you don't want to talk and never want to talk, you don't need a mic. If you don't want to listen to others talk (along with game sounds) you can mute other players … it doesn't impact game sounds.

Being able to talk to other players helps with team co-op. But you don't have to do it. A lot of folks playing in pugs never say a word. It's your choice.

It will be highly recommended and desirable to take advantage of the in-game VOIP, but it's not required. I played DAIMP (briefly) with no VOIP and no text chat and was still able to follow along and not make too much of an ass of myself wrt the more experienced players in the run. It's not ideal, but it's not a public shunning or fugettaboutit limitation either.

Come to think of it, an "I don't have a headset/mic" emote should be in the default set. It's going get used, a lot.

It makes sense.

A couple of points that might reassure you: half of the game is entirely "your story". It's single-player in Fort Tarsis and your Strider. Your decisions and only your decisions impact NPC relationships and your standing in the NPC community in the single-player part of the game.

It's the other half, the shared world, where the stuff you mentioned is at issue. And even there, at least for Missions, you can set them to private if you wish. In which case, you play the Mission solo. No one can join on you. However, the world is still shared, meaning that things other players do, maybe players you never met and never meet in the future, can change the shared world in ways that you will notice and experience. For example, on Monday, you explore an area that has a frozen lake. On Tuesday, you pass through that area and see that the lake is still frozen. But on Wednesday, passing through that area again, you notice that the lake is now liquid, you can swim in it, and there is a hidden area beneath the surface you can do stuff in.

So even though you can play Missions in the shared world by yourself, the world itself isn't just yours.

For completeness, there is also a Free Play mode in the shared world, where though you can do your own thing and go where you want, you can't stop up to 3 other people (4 total) entering the same instance of your Free Play. You don't have to stay near them or interact with them -- as you would on a Mission with more than 1 player in the squad -- but you can't prevent them from entering either, apparently.

Mass Effect 3 'done big' is a useful analogy for Anthem (and a game without PVP of course).

I won't be playing other people's missions that I have not played myself first, though I will 'help' other players experiencing a mission for the first time.
Like you, plot and spoilers are important.

There's a free Open Demo February 1st, perhaps try that out.

Once 'guilds' are announced, I also hope we can do something for BSNers.

We're kind of waiting for BioWare to explain how they are going to do it, but once that is announced, BSN will certainly be joining in.

Maybe BSN can implement a ranking system or caste system. Each leader within’ BSN that actively contributes to the anthem community develops their own personal guilds and has say over who joins and represents their brand. Ultimately BSN as a whole will be the umbrella these guilds will fall under, however this gives players a sense of belonging  and leaders a sense of inclusiveness. Just a thought.

Ultimately I agree. Especially with the power hungry kids scenario maybe different groups can be based on age.

My personal opinion is that if there is no oversight and BSN as a group/guild (on Anthem) is an open free for all. It will get old real fast. 

Best case Scenario is a fraternity system based on several criteria. Connectivity/Location, Intent/Age, Personal chemistry.

The last thing anyone wants is to be partnered with people you don't necessarily get along with or even have issue connecting with due to massive location disparities, which could end up being a forced situation.

IF (MASSIVE IF) Anthem does end up being the start of a 10 year journey, and guilds become a thing over here. This opens the opportunity for a greater sense of community interpersonal connectivity because you have friends. Not just forum mates.

(Obviously this doesn't account for the people that have been apart of this community for years. I am referring to the massive Boom of people that will come looking for a community once the game comes out. Even myself I am new but I have been following the forum for a little bit before joining so I'm a little familiar.)

I appreciate it Sofa Buddy! It's unfortunate that Anthem won't feature a text chat at launch, but the reason why makes sense. We can only hope it'll become a reality post-launch!