Well, this pile of money didn't fall from the sky, did it? It came from satisfied console players.
https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/the-outer-worlds
Look at Todd Howard. Does he deserve respect for his craft? Depends on whom you ask because RPG means different things to different people.
Millions of people who loved Skyrim, Fallout 4, and can't wait to buy the next TES game will tell you that he's the best damn game designer there is. Similarly, if the Outer World is successful (and it hasn't even hit Steam yet), then Tim & Co will get all the respect for their craft they can handle.