Hi,

I finished the main quest. Once for the Railroad and another for the Institute. I tried checking out the Minutemen ending, but gave up after two tries of the Defend the Castle quest ( there are always some settlers turning red during the fight). I think I will stay with the Institute ending.

I've tried exploring the maximum I could before finishing the MQ, 252 hours in total, I don't have any quests but the radiant ones in the quest journal. I suppose there won't be any new quest arcs opening up after the MQ, right? So it will be "Ghoul problem at Abernathy" and consorts ad inifinitum?

I haven't gotten that far at all in quests for 220 some hours played. I suspect that I'll continue to roam the country side systematically re-clearing locations. But that is sooo far off for me. The other option is to start another paly through with distinctly different playstyle. Do that for a short period of time because I for one think the DLC is going to come before I finish the main story

I try not to rush into the world to fast if I plan on doing a play through with the MQ in mind. that way there is always something new to explore and things to do.

But my current play through has been a little different. I'm exploring and doing the MQ in pieces. I've ignored the minutemen and the railroad so far. but I have made contact with the BoS. My character is pretty much figuring her son is out of her grasp and this is why she is taking her time finding him. sure she is following clues and such but no rush. That way by the time I do finish the MQ, I'll feel like I have completed her story.

But to answer your question... I don't know. start over with another character and try a build you didn't before. or simply ignore the whole MQ.