The character development, emotionality and story definitely are an asset to the requisite stats and character sheets. The fact that the MC isn’t already familiar with the game makes you feel as though you’re learning the ropes of the game with him. It helps the reader connect and emphasize with his plight more than any book of it’s kind IMO. The author’s decision to do this just makes sense even if it might be misunderstood as character stupidity by some readers. i feel the book does a good of explaining why this is the case and foreshadowing what is to come if you’re paying attention.
Additionally the MC’s ignorance of gaming in general is later used to even greater effect for certain humorous and humbling situations that him seem more human that wouldn’t be as possible or believable if he had been an avid gamer already. There’s gaming and there’s GameLit and then there’s LitRPG. These are not interchangeable things and shouldn’t be conflated with each other. Despite what came before, this book aims to level up the Literary experience. It’s not boring like many books with one dimensional characters that are more stat driven, light on plot / story with lots of unnecessary filler. This is a character / story driven series. If that’s what you’re after then look no further.