I've scanned through many of these posts and I see some awesome ideas. You are getting wonderful feedback from the gaming community. It is true that the path of this game should have a significant difference from the other major water-based games out there. For now, maybe the focus should be beefing up the established options and adding one or two new ones that move towards endgame possibilities.
For example:
Upgrading what we have
- Fishing doesn't always yield a catch, multiple types of fish, maybe poisonous options?
- Incentive to go into the water and brave the shark (durability on the hook?)
- Multiple enemies, oceanic life or otherwise.
- The ability to move items after placing
- Crops grow super easy right now. Don't they need water too? Additional types of crop?
Moving toward endgame
- Weather (some resulting in raft destruction) and day/night cycle. [rain for crops/fresh water without boiling]
- Barrels/Crates yield items to build a radio or transmitter
- Decide whether we rescue ourselves (steering the raft to a goal. Would also result in being able to steer towards desired flotsam) or if rescue comes to us (constructing radio contact with passing ships/aircraft)
I apologize if I duplicated previous suggestions. I like what you are doing and you've attracted a lot of attention. Keep it up!
(you guys posted things while I typed this out, so there are duplications. Sorry!)