Hello, thanks for leaving your feedback!
We definitely focused on a simple concept in order to try and control our scope, so all (or most) of our mechanics could be relatively polished by the first day. While I would personally separate design & relevance in that respect, I totally respect your judgment. Our ultimate goal was to make a game we enjoyed playing, and as we're both fans of shmups, it was an easy choice.
Regardless, we're happy to hear people are still enjoying it! Thanks again!