I'm not extremely far into the game, but I thought I'd be having more fun. I'm about, probably 4 hours in. Doing various side missions and a few of the main missions but everything seems so boring. I understand the concept of having to get better guns and armor(clothes whatever), So I've been looking for artifacts and picking up random shit and selling it, doing random missions, etc, so I could buy the only 'Better' armor I've seen (the armor sold by the guy at the beginning of the game- forget his name).

I'd say I've been spoiled by linear games and their constant action, but I just came off Fallout 3, which isn't necessarily as in depth as STALKER but it seemed to have alot more to do. The Zone just kind've feels empty and you run across someone every now and then, and most of the time quick save > quick reload a few times to beat them.

It just seems so boring, which sucks because I'm really trying to like this game, since it's one of the games I was looking forward to playing when i got a comp that could play it.

So does it get better?

Depends.  I personally didn't enjoy the first five hours or so because the weapons were so in-accurate and the missions not all that fun.  Once you get into the Agropram underground things start to pick up though.

If you've gone through that level (pretty much the first underground area) and you didn't really like it, you probably won't like the rest of the game.  But try to play through that and a little bit afterward before putting it away for good.

From my personal experience, yes. I hated the game in the begining, but since I had just bought its for 50 bucks, I decided to wade through it for a while. After about... 6 hours or so, it got significantly better. The weapons get better, the atmosphere of later levels is truly immersive, and the enemies get smarter and creepier. Stick with it for a while longer. 

I feel the STALKER series is a love it or hate it franchise. There are parts of each game that are just awful, but it's the great epic moments of the game that should really be the highlight. I can't even begin to describe how badly I want everyone to love this series, but like everyone else is saying...STALKER is slow in the beginning, it just takes time to build into the epic that it is. If by the end of the game you've enjoyed it pick up both Clear Sky and Call of Pyrpiat. Both good on there own merits, Clear Sky being the weakest of the three, but personally, just awesome all around.

Yes. Once it really opens up, and you get some better gear, and all the weird horror-type stuff starts happening, that game is awesome.

Stick with it a little more. Cause eventually you will need that better gear in the future. If you become impatient you can alternatively finish the quest where you go to the Agroprom Research Institute and find the underground tunnels to get a good armor for free and its the 1st  underground level as well. It becomes much creepier at the latter parts and intense at the final parts of the game. 
 
Also if you haven't downloaded the STALKER Complete 2009 mod. Do so as its enhances the visuals and actually changes the experience of the game.

I'm going to guess you haven't left the Cordon...
you should leave the Cordon.

It's one of the those games that gradually grows on you, once you get past it's steep, steep learning curve. It more engrossing as you go, by then, it really pulls you in it's twisted world. It's a very good first-person shooter, definitely one of the most immerssive and unique games in the genre for years. 
 
@mrhankey said:

" I feel the STALKER series is a love it or hate it franchise. There are parts of each game that are just awful, but it's the great epic moments of the game that should really be the highlight. I can't even begin to describe how badly I want everyone to love this series, but like everyone else is saying...STALKER is slow in the beginning, it just takes time to build into the epic that it is. If by the end of the game you've enjoyed it pick up both Clear Sky and Call of Pyrpiat. Both good on there own merits, Clear Sky being the weakest of the three, but personally, just awesome all around. "

All I can do is reiterate what people have already said. That game is worth sticking around for. It took me a few hours to get into it too but when I did, I did hard.
It's on my list of greatest gaming experiences.