But I did think that all the GTA games were, and didn't appreciate or care for any of the various nuanced changes across them, which people have been calling out in indignation.

That's why I volunteered Final Fantasy and Elder Scrolls (series that I really like) as being similar to GTA. To someone that doesn't care for them, I'm certain one spiky haired protagonist is very much like another, and one area to explore for loot fairly similar to another, even if the aesthetics have changed. I don't see it that way personally, but I'm certain others do... just like I feel that way about GTA.

But specifically in terms of Elder Scrolls, I loved Morrowind and thought Oblivion was bland, repetitive and boring, and lost practically all of the charm and addictive immersion that made Morrowind so good.