Group Quest Design Fail

[ZohnoReecho]

I think socializing is part of multiplaying but socializing ≠ multiplaying. I can be social but not be playing at all. I can talk about a solo game with other people on skype, but I'm not multiplaying.
Journey, thatgamecompany's game, gives you hardly any way to socialize, but even then you are multiplaying when someone joins your adventure.

The OP says

It's alienating to players who may NOT want to have to group with strangers

To me it sounds anti-social compared to your social view of multiplaying. To socialize means also to make new friends, not just keep the ones you have, or simply talk and interact with other people you don't know.

So, in my opinion, the OP doesn't want to "play and interact with others".