There are better models in other games; over all, the unrealistic female bodies are a turn off for me; but in general visual elements are decent; and I agree, facial expressions are great. One of the best things of this game.
Saying that the writing is inconsistent is a way to say it's bad, I think. Inconsistency is not a good thing. My problem is not the mix of comedy and dramatic elements. My problem is that the drama is over the top and doesn't mix well with the goofy teen comedy elements.
I think drug dealing is fine. It's a realistic subplot and can be interesting. But the subplot of cock sucking in the toilets has the sole purpose of including unnecesary porn scenes and justify the silly system of money. And I do think it ruins several of the HOTs as characters. Who wants as a Li a girl who sucks cocks for a few bucks in the toilets? It's hard to get attached to a character like that. It's not my kink, that's for sure. If it makes me a member of the anti-NTR brigade, great, I am. And that includes Lily, when she asks MC for money for a blowjob at the prep's party. I think a lot of fans just decide to pretend it doesn't exist and focus on other things of those characters (as MC does, by the way) but it's not something that contributes to make appealing a character like Riona, for example.
Another thing is the Burke case. Some of the HOTs could prostitute themselves just to him in exchange of a scholarship. That would be drama enough, create a decent antagonist (I'm sure things like that happens in real life), and it wouldn't turn the girls into cheap whores. DPC doesn't respect his female characters, not just by turning some of them into cheap whores, also making them always dress like whores and wear those over-the-top makeups, but at the same time he wants us to take their stories seriously.
I don't think DPC is looking to win awards, but he does intend to create something that isn't just a porn game for a quick fap. It aims to create a good story and good characters. But he goes overboard with the porn elements, and he goes overboard with the drama.