It matters not what we say on here because L&P is only interested in paying patrons. I can appreciate that (but don't have to like it). I doubt he reads this thread very much, if at all. Even if he did, or does, I doubt it would change much. I think you hit the nail on the head in remarking on how long we wait, only to be disappointed but of course L&P can't please everybody, so he's chosen to cater mainly for the Dylan, mother-son incest followers. I assume he knows or believes that this is the best way forward to continue making good money. This is the lobby that does seem to have some influence as a consequence.
I play one or two other games with multiple choice paths which actually take longer between updates than AWAM & are also "one man shows" & yet even though I have had to make particular choices & follow set paths, I've not yet been disappointed. As far as I can tell, this is because roughly equal weight/time/renders etc. are given to the various branches. There is controversy, true but nothing like that generated by AWAM.
L&P does read and interacts with his Patron members, but he also reads this board as well. Probably not as often as he did 3-5 years ago, but he does pay attention and post in here when he feels his game is getting horrible reviews or controversial scenes like Dylan's Twist that he feels that he needs to defend. For catering to Dylan's followers, I wouldn't say that's entirely true either. The last major Dylan event was split into 2 versions. The first version 0.085 (8.22.19), which was the Sophia's Bathtub/Hottub and Mall Change room event, and the next version after was 0.090 (12.28.19), which was the Bikini Fashion Show with/out "the other guy." All the other events were more peeping tom/"Happy Ending" events and other build-ups (Dylan and Marie) from Dylan's POV in Yoga class. There is really nothing else that progresses Sophia's Story with Dylan as of now. The next version update that will have Sophia/Dylan, per L&P, is suppose to be a small update with nothing major either.
This next major update with Dylan is on the backend of Playable Day 13 and will probably not happen until next year. That's if you factor in how much time he's taken to release an update, which has been roughly 3-5 months depending on how many renders and scenes he needs to make for his story. If Dylan's event for playable day 13 doesn't happen until next year, that is roughly around a two and half year wait for something significant to possibly happen. Still, Sophia's (L&P) started this "Sex-ED" theme with Dylan, which I don't know even how she was going to crack it to advance the story with Dylan to make it believable since it didn't really move anywhere with version 0.085 and 0.090. It was pretty much a look but no touching the merchandise.
Now, if you compare Sophia/Ellie with Sophia/Dylan, Ellie is light years ahead of Dylan in progression, plus Sophia/Ellie's story is flowing so much smoother than Dylan's right now. Ellie is already having intimate scenes with Sophia which Ellie's already experienced a "Happy Ending" moment with Sophia in the shower. Sophia/Ellie is already making out with each other. Hell, Sophia was even part of Ellie and Julie's Pool Party event. Also, you have Alyssa's "Antonio" Event and Patrica's Yoga Event from Sophia's POV. The one thing I would say I would like to see is more scenes with Sophia, Ellie, and Patricia. Still, per L&P, the female cast in his story doesn't need to have more scenes since females are more comfortable to "experiment" and open up to each other where it takes longer to develop with males.
To say L&P is catering to the Dylan followers, I can't say that's the case since nothing has really happened yet with Sophia/Dylan unless you want to say they got their way with the removal of the twist. I would say Dylan is due for another major event now.
