Others isn't even the problem forcing a choice in episode 8 and locking everything else off is what increased the workload. So instead of just Chick, DIK and Neutral the game got split off into Chick Sage, Chick Bella, Chick Jill, Chick Maya/Josy, Chick Others, DIK Sage, DIK Bella, DIK Others then Neutral paths...
If he eliminated Others then there would only be one DIK focused path aka Sage cause Bella isn't really a Chick character. Then Others is till necessary for those that never engaged in relationships with any of the main LI's. I'd say Others is considerably less work too he can pick and choose who shows up each episode. However now e.g. there needs to be a sex scene with every other LI each episode otherwise e.g. Bella fans would go two years without content. It use to be Bella or Sage etc wouldn't have a sex scene each episode but now he's literally forced to do it.
I thought DPC wouldn't force a relationship choice till the very end of the game like most other VN's do to save themselves a headache