I think you missed the point.  The vault (Pandora's Box) was just a prison for the squid monster (all evils).  There is no loot - Angel wanted you to be there solely to whoop the shit out of the squid monster (presumably because she knew Atlas + Tannis were going to open it anyway).
 
Unless something different happens at the end of playthrough 2 (anybody?).

"I think you missed the point.  The vault (Pandora's Box) was just a prison for the squid monster (all evils).  There is no loot - Angel wanted you to be there solely to whoop the shit out of the squid monster (presumably because she knew Atlas + Tannis were going to open it anyway).  Unless something different happens at the end of playthrough 2 (anybody?). "

" noah theres all ready forums dedicated to the sequel, someone lock this forum. "

Wait, the story confused people? 
 
How? 
 
You play a vault hunter.  Angel chick is telling you all this crazy shit.  You find out Tannis, this super crazy bitch on Pandora, has unlocked the secrets of opening the Vault.  Atlas Corp. wants the contents of the Vault.  You get to the Vault.  It's a giant pussy.  You kill the pussy.  Angel chick turns out to be sentient AI controlled from a satellite (like HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey).  Sentient AI turns Claptraps into Interplanatary Ninja Assassins to take over the world. 
 
End of story.

I was confused at the end. I thought I was going to get some really badass guns, as that's what they were telling us. Then a squidmonster showed up, you kill it, and then nothing. I thought you would've gone into that special area and pick up some crazy weapons...

" @jakob187: This is the game....  But what I'm saying is that Tannis tells you it will open again in another 200 years and you will be able to go in. Maybe there's something in there besides the monster, idk the game doesnt really explain it. "

I wasn't confused; I don't really understand how anyone is. Sure, there were some things that were left unexplained (for example, the existence of "Angel"), but otherwise it all seemed pretty straightforward: what was in the Vault was not what you expected. That tends to happen when things have been forgotten about for thousands of years. Yes, it was disappointing that there wasn't a veritable treasure trove of loot awaiting you at the end, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

If they do anything with that part of the story, I hope it's just DLC. I wouldn't want to play another game based around basically the same plot. (But I'd play it anyways because Borderlands kicks ass...)

I really didn't pay attention to the specifics of the story, and I can't believe those of you who have played it through are reaming those who are confused. Who honestly payed enough attention to the specifics on the story beyond, "you're a Vault Hunter Mercenary. Find The Vault"? Seriously. I don't understand half the crap that happened, but it's not because it confused me, it's because I didn't give a shit enough about the story to dissect every piece of the story. Half the time the story is given in quick jabs while you're going to a boss fight, and even then not much information is given.
 
But yeah, the journey of getting to The Vault was the only interesting part of the story that I cared to pay attention to.

Its not exactly made clear Im pretty sure, whether there is nothing in the vault except that monster, or whether you missed your opportunity and just have to wait another 200 years. Regardless, it was a dumb story..but I cared little about it because the gameplay itself was great, and I am a loot addict.

Forget the main story, I wanna kill every single bandit....

 
What are you guys talking about?  There wasn't any ending.  I'm confused.  I killed Hivemind by standing behind the rock and shooting it's testicle.  Then saw the lady/AI mission update and watched her make claptrap into an even gayer mascot.   
 
That was the ending?  I thought that was all fake.  I mean, the main boss didn't even drop a decent gun or anything really.  The credits had no music.  That cutscene wasn't even 30 seconds long.  There were no flashy character intro's, like with most of the other baddies. 
 
I don't know about you guys, but I think that AI is tricking us and keeping the lootzors for herself!!!  Anyway screw this game!  I'm not waiting 200 years for the sequel...

I was hoping for some really cool guns for beating the boss. Up until the final boss battle I had only ever picked up 1 Eridian energy weapon and I was level 38 so I was really hoping for some crazy overpowered guns that I could have fun with and the fact that the drops from the final boss were worse than all of the weapons that I had equipped really disappointed me.

" Yeah the story was totally stupid & the ending was the very definition of weak sauce. The only thing that concerns me about a potential sequel is the presence of Scooter as a character. As long as Scooter & his wonderful dialogue make their way into Borderlands 2 I WILL PLAY THAT FUCKING GAME! "

 Didn't read the quests let alone pay attention to the story, but think I understood what was going on from the Audio reocrdings. 
 
I will say the Tannis audio recording were great and offering to punch someones dog has become an often occurence between my co-op group.

Well your main character didn't really do the right thing with the vault key. 
The person who found the vault was promised wealth, power and women. I just killed a near immortal being and i have a key that could potentially lead to even more untold riches, who wouldn't want a piece of him.