Ok, but apart from that, it’s okay, right?

No. Not by a long shot. You’re better off playing Fallout 4.

what is a good space exploration/trading game that doesn’t require a huge learning curve?

Freelancer. It’s old (2003), but it’s still effectively the Explore/Trade/Fight space sim that every other game gets compared to. I’ll note that it’s focus is on getting good combat ships and flying around, exploration exists but is the least developed aspect, I’d say. Gotta get it thru the high seas, tho.

Evochron Legacy is an indie game that might scratch your itch, it also lets you fly into planets’ atmospheres and it accounts for the friction, so while you can fly fast, doing so will damage your ship. I don’t think its learning curve is too steep, but it can take some time to get used to. Try the demo before buying it, as one negative review suggests

Lastly, check out Underspace’s demo. Still in Early Access, but seems promising.