> first thing I look for is the README. To my disappointment, it either doesn't exist at all, it's the default generated
Auto generated READMEs (and their handcrafted equivalents) are worse than useless. Not only are you wasting your time creating one (and giving yourself the sense of having accomplished something when you haven't) but the effect of a README creation is one-to-many, so consider that wasted time and then throw a multiplier on it. That's the cost of a dummy README. Don't create them, people.
Auto generated READMEs (and their handcrafted equivalents) are worse than useless. Not only are you wasting your time creating one (and giving yourself the sense of having accomplished something when you haven't) but the effect of a README creation is one-to-many, so consider that wasted time and then throw a multiplier on it. That's the cost of a dummy README. Don't create them, people.