Why the lack of underwater content?

But anyway, onto the point: SWTOR was obviously released in a germinative state, as most of you know. However, its developers were smart enough to leave a foundation in place that could allow them to add certain elements—or rather, systems—to the game post-release. These can be found all over the place (I'm surprised more players haven't picked up on them), and include systems as potentially complex as vehicle hit points, weather cycles, counter-spying missions (Last Emperor Flashpoint), pazaak, swoop races, entertainment careers, player housing and yes, water-based shenanigans.

"But wait, what are you talking about? I've never seen anything in the game that suggests the potential inclusion of any water-based systems! Troll."

Well then, you aren't looking hard enough. Why don't you go ahead and go back to Ord Mantell. Do the class-quests there with either a Smuggler or a Trooper and count the number of times NPCs expressly state, loud and clear, the necessity of your having to swim across to Manett Point because the bridge is out. There's even a reference to the use of a hydro-speeder on the Trooper side. But then, when you get there, the water barely goes above knee length.

This vast body of water NPCs keep alluding to was obviously not meant to remain in its current puddle-like state indefinitely, and the reason why it was put in place in the first place was so that it might allow for the future inclusion of swimming/hydrospeeder features. This is why I keep going on about retroactive changes, it's essential that they preserve the original creators' vision: mostly because it seemed a heck of a lot cooler than anything we've gotten thus far.

I would imagine because swimming is a whole new system to implement that they never implemented. Personally, I hate underwater combat. I do like swimming and seeing cool stuff underwater, but I hate actual water combat. GW2 was kind of cool though, with the water weapon changes.

I can't believe some of the things I'm reading here. "Everyone hates underwater content", are you people for real?
That's like saying everyone hates racing games, or platforming, or whatever other feature/genre you can think of.

Vashj'ir was my favorite zone in WoW. World PvP was incredible there. The scenery was excellently memorable. There was nothing quite like exploring the deepest depths of the ocean, and then going deeper and deeper.

Of course... it was because I was a Druid, with the speed-of-light-swimming Manatee shapeshift form. I could see why others would hate it though, lol.

KOTOR 1 did it.

How come there's no water in this game more than 2 feet deep?

Next planet should be Manaan For your background environment scenery you could just do one big ocean and sky....pretty easy for you Bioware right?

And the area would be exactly the same as KOTOR 1...on a big platform..and all the content would be underwater inside the base.

I would love to use my seeker droid underwater wearing a diving suit. Like the rarest of rare items would be found there or something.

Because underwater content is the absolute most horrible thing to ever exist in video games?

Because the underwater content in KotOR was horrible?
And because developing underwater content would take about as much time as developing a whole new expansion (and i mean real expansion, not just the 10$ dlc we got).

And lastly, because parts of the playerbase would think it was pointless and a waste of time and effort.

A game that is designed to be one of those things is fine, people who like them will be attracted to them. Forcing people into underwater space in a game that isn't initially designed for having enemies below and diagonal to your field of vision is torture.