yeah this is my thing as well. I'm in college for software engineering and game design because I'm tired of devs who think because they put a bunch of effort into something that it must be put into the game and must be fun. We're making a game that's fun in aesthetic, unique in dynamics, and comfortable in mechanics. Player input WILL decide most of this game outside of the story. That's going to be 90% Lewd and some input from me.
but mechanics and such? Oh yeah, players know what fun is and devs should listen to them. I could rant all day on this.
Trees take too long to cut down? we tweak it
Leveling is too grindy? we tweak it.
Mines are too hard? I'm actually planning a difficulty scaling in the options for that.