If synths were no different from humans, then they would be called humans. There is no point to 'freeing' a machine that usually serves the Institute willingly. Again, it would be like freeing a microwave from it's homeowner 'master'. If synths had free will an wanted to leave the Institute, they would. But they cannot, as why would the Institute program them to do so?
Investment is really easy... You just have to try. Investment can't grab you, you have to allow yourself to be invested. When you say "The story hasn't given me a reason to be interested." Sue it has, you just didn't allow it nor thought much on it.
Not entirely true, I was invested with the main story to the point I pursued it with single minded determination. Like a parent searching for a child. Who'd have thunk?
I get where both Veloth and Bryn are coming from, don't get me wrong. My point is that unlike the main story which goes to considerable lengths to try and invest the player with a motivation - and in my case succeeded - a major influence on your character's later decision when determining factions is based on their feelings toward Synths also actually requires the player to do the work for the game. It requires the player to be at a certain place and talk to certain people off their own back and with no prior motivation to do so beside curiosity.
All you have to do is talk to some characters
Unlike the main story which is a succession of natural events, the player actually has to work to get the most out of the Faction decision and Synth issue? Surely you can see my point here. The fact I was too busy pursuing the primary objective of my character's story prevented me from talking to specific people and getting valuable insight which would have later influenced a few key decisions is not the optimal way of telling a story.
So now the only faction I have really allied myself is with the BoS and I am at a point where some of this crucial context is missing. This is an example of poor implementation of an idea, no?
It seems Bethesda hates making stories focusing on family seeing as in FO3 the most interesting part was looking for your father and everything after was blaaaaaaaah. I was kept entertained all the way through though, and I was with BOS until a certain mission... I gave up on them afterwards. I sided with the institute as first, and was happy... until piper talked to me and told me she was mad... at which point I reloaded a past save.