I saw 2001 only a few weeks ago... ;-) High expectations, because the movie was so acclaimed.
The concepts and mechanics are not causing the problems, the way you describe it, imho. Having fantasy currency is the norm in games. Having hidden preferences of your toons is not a problem either, you just have to figure them out. And if the game (accurately) teaches long term economics, yay, tag for educational. Limitations of party size is a staple of any game you control more than one toon. You do not hire a thief to fill a mage's role either. All those concepts are well known and understandable to even young players.
I do not think, I get what you mean with abstract thinking. The whole concept of playing a game is an excercise in abstract thinking. You do see the results of your planning in the game, do you not? I remember distinctly from your video that you even see how the audience reacts and to what. Like having the setting in a specific region. What is "abstract" about making the connection that certain combinations will have certain effects? That is not different from improving your damage per second in an mmo that is played by 12yo.
People will probably not get the assumed easter eggs, if they do not know the movies they recreate. That is a given.
I am not sure, if the kids that now perceive the game as difficult would have a different opinion, if they first encountered the game as a mature adult. My guess the problem is not difficulty, but appeal. Your game looks like an accountant software. Kids dig difficulty in general. Just look at "nintendo hard" or Dark Souls. But just like adults, not all kids dig difficulty. Or management games. But the thing is, more people are playing games nowayday then back in the 80s. Gamer kids back then were more nerdy, and those gamers are adults now. So I presume, that adult gamers are currently a little bit more nerdy than the younger gamers. And your game looks like it appeals to the nerd in all of us. Fussing about details as an accountant.