I never understood this criticism and think it's a nitpick. It's certainly not the game-breaking mechanic a loud minority says it is.
Y'all look at it like:
"I am just playing the game and get inexplicably and inescapably kidnapped!"
...and not...
"I continue to destroy specific quest-related targets that, past a certain threshold, will trigger a story mission!"
Daddies, chill.
Idea: Don't complete the long list of events necessary to trigger the forced story mission, and hey it won't get triggered!
"This game is literally unplayable. I just want to go to the area where the mission starts without it forcing the mission on me. Totally ruins the game!"
Daddy, chill.