I have to admit that I do agree with you on a certain extent.
In particular, the translations from scenes to scenes are indeed a tad bit too long, and I do have to complain about the sound that is used.
I won't lie that, for some characters, it is quite hard to find a difference between their voices. Nevertheless, their VA did a wonderful job-which is probably one of the things I enjoy the most about that VN, because, c'mon, there isn't that many visual novels who actually have voices for their characters. And the VA nailed their jobs, they all feel natural in a way.
Decisions we can take in the VN don't feel very... important, indeed. Nor do they have a major impact on the story progression. And what little we can actually control is nothing compared to every decisions we aren't able to do. So I do agree with you, I sincerely wish they could make the MC far less autonomous if they want to make use of choices in the story. The best in term of visual novels are those with either linear storyline or choices that have a lasting impact on the storyline, since an in-between usually give mild results in my perspective.
Oh, and we are on the same mindset about forward facing characters-it is a bit unsettling at times.
But other than that, I don't have any others major criticisms.
Sure, characters may not have that many visual states, but I'm pretty confident that, as Komorebi get developped, we'll see more and more sprites, some which will be more fitting for a variety of emotions. The designs of the characters are also pretty neat in my opinion. Not too boring while still having a fairly simple look.
The personnality of the characters might seem very similar at first, but do remember we're only at the beginning of the visual novel. Sure, maybe they could have been a bit more different from each others at day one, so they could be more interesting outside of their design, but usually, in real life, you'll find new people very similar to others people you met t'ill you start to know them very well. As long as there is some kind of progression in how much we can see their personnality, and how much they divert from each others, I think it should give some great results.
The quotes are a nice addition. The visual novel seem to have roots in a more philosophical side, since there is the implication of having the ability to know our future-and therefore, ponder about our very own existence and its meaning. I don't feel they are cringy, they just fit well without being too much. Better than having all the characters throwing inspirational quotes every 5 minutes, right?
Overall? Like any visual novels, it has its flaws. But I would still recommend it for all the great things it has brought: the VA, the concept (the menu with all the fragments is very interesting, and the plot is also feeling somewhat more original than many others stories I've read), the characters designs... It need improvements, sure, but we just got the demo: let us wait for the full game, as perhaps it will surprise us.
Do note that it is my first time that I'm actually typing such comment and that I'm not particularly refined on the subject- my goal was simply to express my point of view, in hope of clarifying that Rickalick87 was fair in pointing out weaker aspects of the visual novels, which they could be improved, but to also show that it is still a very promising work, one I'm looking forward to keep reading once the full VN is released.
Apologies for any mistakes that I've made in my comment, I usually speak and write in french.