A better hint system would be nice, but my ideal would be like old school point and click games where the characters would remind and guide you if it got to the point where it was clear that you were lost.
Like the tape thing. Maybe Mrs. L could tell you that, "If you leave a gift for the tape fairy, they will leave tape in it's place"
I am not sure exactly how it works, but I find it strange that the time can move forward even though I haven't really accomplished anything some times.
Overall, I find the game charming, but I think I will see if things change before committing to playing all the way through. Ultimately, it feels like the dev is mistaking their knowledge of the solutions for obviousness to the player. I don't mean that as an insult. I feel like it's natural to assume everyone has similar knowledge to you and it's also difficult to completely understand what it's like to not know anything about the puzzle you yourself have created the answer to.