Agreed.
IMO the Route System is somewhat overrated, I only know of 2-3 Furry-Novels who have been completed; 1. The "Tennis" Game with the weird long name that non-native english speaker hate to speak. 2. ECHO, but every Route is only 1 week ingame. 3. My Favorite: PASSWORD by Grizz. Route only determines your Sidekick/Loveinterest, but plot and Story stays the same.
Point is the Route-System takes infinite more time and is a total horror for perfecionist writer. I prefer:
1. Stories with Choices and diffrent outcomes; BUT Route only determines extra Dialog and spending time with choosen Character, while plot and Story stay the very same: PASSWORD , Distant Travel (only 3 "Routes") , Minotaur Hotel
2. Short Stories: Clawstar Wrestling, In Case of Emergency.
3. Total linear Stories: Remeber the Flowers, Adastra (one hit wonder), Heatsource