I have no doubt most Destiny 2 players are simply fans of the gameplay, raids, and social platform (not to mention loot grind). But anyone who is curious whether Bungie made a stronger effort to build a narrative, the answer is yes, with the understanding that it has been structured in a way which runs askew to most narrative traditions. I'm inclined to give them leeway on this, since game stories must sometimes follow their own path in order to synchronize with a particular gameplay framework. Promises of rich, cinematic storytelling still seem unfulfilled, but the developer has made strides in at least providing a narrative foundation for everything you are tasked with doing in-game (and there are many). Much of the Destiny 2 story brought me back to Halo, both in theme and tone. And while the plot devices are overworn, and more than a bit over-the-top, they do create a sense of consistency and encourage more exploration in the post-game. This, at least, provides the potential to tie disparate story threads together with details found as rewards for immersing yourself in the game world as a whole. While this may solidify the existing player base, many who felt disappointed with the first game will probably feel that way again, just to a lesser degree.
Destiny shows improvement with The Taken King, but there is still work to be done before it occupies a place in the canon of key games of this generation.