Concern Over Lack of Promotion: Is this Unfounded?

I wouldn't worry about it. Horizon Zero Dawn is coming out in one month (February 28th), when MEA is coming out almost 2 months away. The devs said we can expect a minimum 15 minute long uninterrupted gameplay "trailer" sometime soon. If by the beginning of March we don't see an uptick in marketing, then I will be worried. But for now, I'm glad with how they are doing it.

I would argue that for Doom, the gameplay was shown early because that's the important part of Doom.  People play it for the gameplay, not for the story.  To get people excited about a new Doom you had to show exciting new gameplay.  While I agree the stuff they showed early for MEA was pretty low on any content, the story is why people play Mass Effect, for the most part.  So hinting at the story was more important to their audience than showing gameplay, persay.  Now I agree some more gameplay should probably have been shown earlier, but I think it is just different focus for different games.

Personally, I don't find it concerning. Just annoying.

I have never understood why anyone here cares about the why and how of Bioware's marketing.

If they haven't convinced you to buy it yet, then don't buy it. If you see something you like, and it's not cost-prohibitive, then buy it. That's all that any consumer needs to care about.

Not sure why many want to know everything about a game before playing it. Especially about a first entry into a new galaxy in the ME universe which is about the wonder and excitement of the unknown.

Not to be that guy, but from what I've seen around them webz,there isn't much excitement surrounding MEA. Like there is this subdued cynical malaise pervading everything.

I think it's more the concern of it not doing well which may affect Bioware's future output.

I don't look around the web because pretty much everyone is a bunch of complainers or people trying to seem cool by getting on the bandwagon of bashing. I focus on tweets by fans reacting to the devs.

That's what I meant. If hardcore fans are not excited then we worry!

I think it'll be alright. You can't please everyone, but I think after the many failings of DAI, MEA will show they learned their lesson on what fans want, as well as what they don't want.

Internet being internet is always a good explanation! Speaking for myself though, i havent seen anything to be particularly excited about. Open world in ME doesnt appeal to me at all because i always valued this particular franchise for its concentrated and fast narrative. New alien designs are very safe and unimaginative. Latest trailer has been a Michael Bay travesty.

Doesnt mean the game will be bad. In fact, i expect ill enjoy it quite a bit like all Bioware games, but id be lying if i said im overly excited by what theyve shown so far.

Yes, this was friggin explained why by Aaryn himself. People are either closing their eyes to logic, or simply butthurt for not knowing exactly what they want to know, which seems to be just about 90% of the game.

I wouldn't worry about what is on the webz.  I can't remember the last game that people were actually hyped about without there being all sorts of super critical comments and tweets and forum posts.  Except No Man's Sky, and look how that turned out.  The internet is full of loud critics who argue and argue for the sake of arguing because they think their opinion matters most (not that I haven't done that, either).  As soon as someone posts "Wow, this game looks awesome!" there are people who immediately reply back how it sucks because of Ryder's face or the ME3 endings or too much LGBTQ, then the other side jumps in with that the ME3 endings weren't that bad, Ryder's face is getting fixed, and then going all SJW, until finally the forum/comment section/tweet board (?) are overwhelmed with arguments and you never see that one comment saying it looks great because it's buried in shit.  I think there is a good amount of hype for the game.  Is it Battlefield 1 or whatever?  No, not that level of hype, but I think people are excited about it, and there is enough space between it and any other title people might be waiting for that more than just the rabid Mass Effect fanbase, those who played the Original Trilogy, will come on board to this new adventure.  I'm positive it will outsell ME3.