Can’t comment on camping/pubs as it’s 45 minutes from home so I don’t bother – although some of the pubs do look inviting.
I’ve never felt ‘meh’ about it. The views on their own are fantastic. It’s very much long climb/long descent style riding so guess you’ll be up/down 3-5 times depending on route/fitness. Compared to the other hotbeds for non-trail centre mtb that i’ve ridden(peaks/lakes) it’s less rocky tech, more fast flowy. Not always singletrack (although there is a lot of it) but always very fast. Puts a smile on my face guaranteed.
Hope weather is good for you, as another has said it’s exposed on the top. Start early in the morning so it’s quieter. I’ve always done Carding Mill as a climb instead of a descent although I’m sure that would be fun, because of the walkers. For descents there is Minton Batch of course, and inbetween there and Carding Mill there is one marked as a footpath on OS that you can ride on bike near Pole Bank, over Round Hill and finishing at Little Stretton. Then have a look over by Jinlye guest house on Plush Hill, going down the Batch to All Stretton or off the East side.
There’s other bits including the downhill in the woods by the glider club. There’s some descents off the NW side of Long Mynd but better to stick to those on the SE side.