This tends to be a bit of a lightning rod type issue.
Anyone on F95 can offer their opinion and I am inclined to at least consider it if they share their reasons behind their opinion.
I may still disagree, but at least we have a healthy discourse.
My occasional frustration comes from those who offer an opinion but refuse to address the reasons why others have a different opinion, or choose to ignore the opinions of others when the reason(s) for their opinion are well-stated.
With AWAM, and supporting with $, I see 3 groups: current supporters who are fine with what they are getting for their $; current supporters who are not fine with the current state of the development of AWAM but they hold out hope for a change; former supporters who have decided that AWAM is no longer worth supporting with their $ - for any number of reasons. I made the journey from the first group, through the second group and I am now in the third group, and I think L&P is milking his supporters.
** IF L&P actually finds a way to increase speed of development in a meaningful way (AWAM is, for example completed by 2030 - which means that would still take L&P more than 13 years to create AWAM and take it to completion - with the same or better quality renders/in game sound effects, animations/story), then I consider becoming a supporter again, but it is no longer automatic.
There might be 2 or 3 other creators who would win back/keep my support for an AVN creation cycle lasting more than a decade and there was a time when I would have included L&P in this company, but no more.
The reality of today:
I will not support a creator who I do not believe or believe in, and L&P has lost my trust with broken commitments - like the commitment to build a real team when he reaches a certain level of resourcing. The evidence of the growing effectiveness of this team would be in ** above.
For those who still believe in the promises of L&P, or you still hold out hope for change - I wish you luck.
I no longer see the promise of L&P/AWAM the way you do but you have every right to your choices/hopes.
Bane71, my personal litmus test is much like yours - I don't accuse of milking if I never had any skin in the game.
I focus less and less about whether or not someone else has/had skin in the game these days, but I respect your position.
My default, simply put - is their criticism well-founded and are their reasons stated so those interested can consider/discuss them?
I realize that there is the barest equivalent of "Robert's Rules of Orders' for a forum on F95, but this is my preference.
I would much rather discuss what I like/hope for on the Sophia hetero or lesbian paths and how Devon the Douche ruined a great opportunity for Sophia to move further along her lesbian exploration journey, courtesy of time with Claire.