Rumors of Sinister Six films and Venom spinoffs got in the say of telling a coherent story over the course of two Amazing Spider-Man movies, which themselves got distracted by subplots involving Peter Parker’s parents, and the rise of a new Green Goblin.
There was a lot of world building, before there was proof that anyone was interested in this new world.
I think it’s fair to admit that “story” and “character” were not top priority as Sony attempted to build a massive world with the Spider-Man rights that the held onto.