meelten: the side missions randomly generated feel like rather boring
ERISS: So don't use the hack pads, as hacking is far more boring (I don't use this new 'feature').
I think this game is not for you: side missions are necessary to grind your factions, and factions story is what is the more interesting in this game.
I don't hack at all, realized it's pointless after second mission or so. I still wouldn't say it's overly interesting. Dungeons all look the same, there's enemy in every room, and types of enemies are very few.
I think I'm about the end of campaign (my current mission recommends level 27 and I read somewhere that level cap on NG is 30) and I do side missions mostly for loot which is pretty good at the moment (epics from minibosses). What factions story are you talking about? So far I haven't encountered any story besides main questline and involved corps.