Appreciate the in-depth response. Shows you're really open to feedback and just generally thinking reflectively about this game and your experience making it; both good traits to have!
Time constraints are always the thing with these, aren't they? Totally understandable that time (alongside just general changes to the game as work on it progressed) would be at play with the things I had feedback on. I know my game changed massively from what I thought it was going to be when I started working (and, to be totally honest, probably suffered as a result, haha.).
And I'm glad you were able to just have fun with this! It does come across in the finished game, and I think for the better. There's a place for seriousness and a place for having some fun, and I probably have the opposite problem of you; I just want it all to be ridiculous fun. Hopefully, you can work out a way to keep working on this! I agree, the potential is there!