Most of the paradox DLC come with free updates though.

That may be true, but I am not interested in a game where every little gameplay element is monetized into DLC and then you need to figure out which DLC is worth buying and it's not clear what you're exactly playing.

On their Steam page, I have ~30 DLC in a $180 bundle. I am good.

I can either by a new(er) indie space strategy game (which I can come back to after a break) or play an older game with long running mods (some of which are actually a lot more novel and unique and keep getting updates).

One example is the Dune Wars mod for Civ 4 which I've played almost for as long as the regular Civ 4 configuration. It's even been updated with graphics from the Villeneuve movies. You get an elaboratly designed, 4X Civ4 total conversion mod, with a great respect for the lore and its gameplay implementation, with updates spanning many years (if not decades), for free.