Yeah, I agree! I know Cambridge had a fairly robust testing system where they tested members of each 'household' randomly each week. My own university (Birmingham) only began testing the most expensive parts of first-year accommodation in November but we always had access to the on-campus testing regime. So it will probably depend on unis and theirs students playing their part if universities have a strengthened testing system if we still need to test variants in September?
I think it's mostly the lack of social aspects that are putting OP off, that you can't currently go onto campus and meet other people in your lectures or seminars because they're all online. I feel similarly as a first year as I haven't really had the chance to make many friends without resorting to illegal gatherings.