Hmmm, I was unaware that Freelancer got any hype whatsoever. I found it in a $5 bargain bin at Game Stop a year or two ago. (I'd agree, it's combat system is fairly unoriginal. However, the focal point of the game was the massive star systems you can roam, reputation with the various groups and the trade routes. It's a trading game... combat is secondary.)
As for Homeworld, the Game of the Year award it got was definitely deserved. Sierra pulled off a 3 dimensional RTS with an engaging storyline and great scenery. I fail to see how that makes it "mediocre." For a 9 year old game, it still kicks a lot of newer RTS's asses.
@Lava: If you dislike the genre, just say so... don't pretend like you've played these games, or even researched them enough to have an opinion about them.