What actually is there on planet surfaces at the moment? I mean, what is there to do? Is there any exploration mechanic? How many different things are there on planet surfaces or is it just the same few things re-hashed over and over?
This is a tough one to answer because it's all going to depend on your point of view of Elite: Dangerous as a whole.
If one was so inclined, one could argue that much of ED is the same thing rehashed over and over. It's just the manner it's done makes it seem less so if your glass is half full and you buy into the Universe as a whole.
In Horizons, the planets are all barren landscapes so imagine a desert and upsize it to a planetary scale. It's quite likely over your travels you'll run into a planet just like this with the only characteristics being massive impact craters from asteroids.
On the other hand, you may find a planet that appears to be the Grand Canyon on a planetary scale. Massive, endless canyons stretch beyond what the eye can see due to extremely active tectonic activity on the planet.
...and yes as far as I know, all planets have experienced some level of tectonic activity. This is what shapes the landscape, determines mountain ranges, open spaces and canyons (at least from what I've read).
I've read it can take 10 full earth days to traverse a planet by SRV in Horizons and I'd imagine 99.90% of that would be without seeing anything beyond terrain.
If you ask me, this is the way it should be.
Currently there isn't much to see but you have to understand that there really shouldn't be. Not every planet should have wrecks, bandit camps or outposts. I'd wager over half the Horizons traversable Universe is uninhabited so there may be nothing at all to do on those unpopulated worlds.
...or there could be tons to do but you won't know it until you drop in and check it out.
Then there are planets with differing sizes of Outposts, pirate camps, minable fragments, wrecks and points of interest. There are less of these in the Universe but there are a fair amount of them around.
Rest assured, you won't have to make 10 jumps to find something to do. The chances are always good that any occupied space will have a planet with at least an Outpost and missions associated with it.
The planetary missions I've done so far have been exceptionally challenging and I'm embarrassed to say I've yet to complete one. I've come very close but have a habit of shooting the wrong thing and then fighting a turret that looks as if it fell off the Death Star.
So to answer your questions:
- Is there lots to do? Yes and No
- Is it the same thing over and over? Depends on your POV, no different than core Elite: Dangerous.
- Are the planets the same? No, different size, scale, shape, terrain and points of interest.
