It developed a lot over the years, and 2.0 with its "territorial movement system" was definitely a step forward. But the basic problems (look up "stellaris blobbing") with the game mechanics remain and won't be addressed any more. If you enjoy "painting the map", add a star. And if you are into Sci Fi and Strategy and don't own it yet, buy asap!

IF you get past the looong intro and midgame of Stellaris, this one is a must have

Plantoid races are - different. Nothing you need, but definitely something that makes Stellaris a richer experience

As with the other story packs, you don't really "need" them for the game, they just make the discoveries you can make more interesting. If you only click them away and don't care for them, you won't need this. Otherwise, the story quality is high as usual, so don't hesitate to buy.