Even just in the console commands, I can see Starfield's potential for modding already. It's got me hopeful, but not so much for Bethesda themselves.
Improvements are definitely made under the hood, but there's a LOT familiar, which is always hilariously concerning. But when some things just don't come to the game, despite being modded into every previous version of their engine, I basically only view these games as modding platforms nowadays. I hope they do, too, and I kinda feel like maybe they do!
HotLoadPlugins - the description suggests that it literally does what it says on the tin, which could be a HUGE win for mod making workflows. Could also be unstable buggy crap that breaks your mod permanently if you try it - who knows! HotReloadUI is also present as well, which could be useful in general.
There's a set of commands for getting/adding/removing mods from objects - that'll for sure be used in some way to make an Actual Mod Items mod, where you don't hafta fucking remake each item mod from raw resources, but instead they sensibly exist as items that can be added and removed at will (on the fly for many, at a bench for a few maybe.) The number of positive effects this would have had on the game as a whole if it was implemented during development would have been staggering (extra worldbuilding, more usable clutter, rare/unique mod loot/rewards, better looting process - mods, not whole heavy items - personalised/smaller/versatile arsenal, etc etc).
Even in commands for NPCs/companions (which is something I still don't know if you can do in the base game, which is HILARIOUS that this is the 7th Creation Engine game to still not have useful companion direction systems, something modded into each fucking game, every time, without fail, in some manner), but commands exist to have companions (or NPCs) become angry at targets, attack targets, move to locations, activate objects/doors, ALL things you'd, for SURE, want to be able to signal to your otherwise WILDLY oblivious-to-personal-space companions to be able to do... Yet can only really do via fucking console commands.
And there's just a lot of very useful-seeming abilities available in commands, suggesting (hopefully) that the internals of the Creation Engine 2 are more robust in function (and hopefully less fucking obtuse to script in).
Some really great stuff has been done since Skyrim, especially with script extenders and the like. With space battles, customizeable ships and corresponding interiors, and procedural planets basically begging to be filled with user-made content, I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing what comes out of Starfield's modding scene.
When they actually give us the tools.
Give us the tools, Todd Bethesda.
GIVE US THE STARFIELD CREATION KIT.