First, a bug -- reaching the "end" with the paladin (made it to "this is where level 2 would be"), my inventory was not cleared out on the next restart, and I got error messages when looking at the inventory.
Second, if I have the ruby ... what can I do with it? The shopkeeper doesn't want it. And the shop ... it comes too early, it feels -- all the money I get later is no good, and I can't afford the things when I do get there.
Third ... is there a way to avoid respectful address or happy thoughts? I've gotten those each time so far, and the "Miss" is in the first thing you say to her. They cause me trouble later.
And fourth ... ugh. I had two resolve, plenty of room for lust, I had used an item to increase my resistance, and in the grotto ... once I said "stare" at the pool, I had no other options/choices and had already "lost". I felt cheated.