I totally agree with you, I keep reading people comments on Reddit saying "Another SAO copy" and wondered if they actually read the manga. SAO starts with Kirito being one of the most experienced player as he was a beta tester, people hated and sometimes fear him, but EDEN starts with MC being ridiculed for sticking with the basic stance, then after persisting thru the insults he finally acquired the "secret move," which was really OP.
Yeah! I would say the start is the same, like they are stuck inside a game and they can die for real but after that everything is different~
Daaaamn! This manga looks so amazing!! At first I was like "bitch copying SAO"?!!!! But it's completly different omg I am hoocked