on PS4 i cant imagine there's much of a point in playing open since on console almost no one uses the text chat so there isn't really a feel of community in game anyway. like people below have said you wont see too many other players outside of systems like sol, founders world, starter systems, and points of interest like CG's and alien structures. and when you encounter players in places like that it usually means there's just someone there who can kill you more efficiently and for less of a reason than the average NPC. TLDR: not much reason to leave solo unless you want to sometimes see other players on the radar or enjoy the odd chance someone might try to kill you for no reason.