Yeah, that's pretty much how I play these days as well. Mod the game to the brim, pick a setting appropriate role (preferably one with little to no intentional combat) and go with that. Being a mundane part of the world is just much more enjoyable to me, probably due to uniqueness that comes with it.

It's a bit easier to roll with it in more linear titles but sandbox games? I'll take the "boring" stuff over glazing just for being the main character any day. I just wish more games had a more systemic rather than curated approach to their features to allow for things like this without mods. That's just my unreasonable wish though.