Eh. MGS 1-3 had Fukushima on board, who I believe made those games what they were. 4 was just all over the place, and, well, we all know what happened with 5. Outside of MGS, what else has Kojima done to turn the mind's gears? I think you are giving him too much credit and I, like OP, expect DS to be "meh". Especially after watching the gameplay trailers.
Policenauts and Snatcher. I've been around the crowd to condemn Kojima since the early 2000's. Even when MGS4 was out it was painfully obvious that opinions about the game were bad. Yeah, stealth, confusing story, long cut scenes, etc etc. Kojima is creative and even if it is not his personal work; Kojima is able to collaborate with people who can make a completely original product. I wasn't sitting there appalled by MGSV either. It sure felt incomplete after watching the DVD. But it had a great soundtrack, fun firefights, and overall it was entertaining. It probably lacked some finishing touches. I like what he has put his name on. Policenauts and Snatcher represent how well he (or his studio) can create a fresh design. Even when people say they can't stand him, his properties have established a pillar in gaming. He has great ideas. Who made a game that was better? Is this the whole Splinter Cell is better because its designed for a western audience?
I guess I can't break down everyone's roles, but Kojima had his name and his face on MGS and other various Konami games. I believe in his vision. I wouldn't know what type of work Kojima did on any of his games. But I like his style and I'll believe in his ability to make great games.
I was entertained by the presentation of MGSV's Nuclear trailer and I can still picture most of what happened in MGSV. In some ways he captures something well, be that characters, art, music, location, etc. There are a ton of excellent game designers out there, but I feel like Kojima understands the entertainment or "-"Hollywood"-" pallet cleanser gaming needs. He's willing to find that song, that vocalist, and that moment to grab the attention of his audience. That's why I like his work and I don't think Death Stranding will be some blow hard of a AAA game.
I didn't dislike MGS1-5. I enjoyed them for the same reasons other fans did. The ability to progress through the game and the story along the way. That includes all the fictional/nonfictional history that are in them. MGS4 was strange at times, but I took a lot from the characters and the events in the game regardless. The models for the characters, the locations you fight the bosses, etc. etc.
Even if you think his games are a joke, he still developed a property and a name that's recognizeable in a lot different artstyles and methods of storytelling. It's not like he forced people to play all 5 MGS games and their spinoffs.