Things are moving. I don't think it will ever have a full-on Drama, but, it is in it's simplicity a game that makes me feel good, relaxed and calm. Granted, it isn't for people that are into heavy and pungent stories, but, well, keeping it simple and easy, also has it's charms, IMO.
The genre appeals to me a lot more than the heavy on decisions or with the "Choose Only One" trope. I abhor cheating. If a Dev is going to put me in a story with multiple LI's, and doesn't force a choice before we "Tried before we Buy" I feel like I am cheating, on everyone, myself included. Oh I can refuse them (sometimes)... the problem is that that is always a anxiety and stress filled decision. Since I am already anxious, stress avert, PTSD and Depressive, it is something I avoid like the plague.
If it is OK, for everyone else, I don't get to complain, right? But, would it be that much more work to create an extra route where you get all the girls, no anxiety, no stress, no cheating? Apparently it is.
It is also apparent that the objective is to incentivize replaying... Well, in my place, would you force yourself to replay a game the number of times needed to experience the anxiety, stress and cheating as many times as there are LI's? Would you really? So, I play it once, with a random LI, it really doesn't matter, all of them will be written to be in love with you, to give you a good time and so on... so choice is an illusion. Irrelevant. Spurious. Wasteful.
So, at least in an Harem game with low levels of Drama, no anxiety, no stress, no cheating, I am quite comfortable and can enjoy what there is of story.
It is quite OK that that doesn't appeal to everyone, your journey through life is yours alone.
Peace