I like it when there are elements that cut the story a bit.This I agree with and would apply that logic to pretty much every VN. Those terrible mini-games, in my opinion, are always a waste of time and resources that negatively impact the game when you consider other content left on the cutting room floor in favor of them. I dont believe i've ever heard anyone talk up a VN for the incredible mini-games it has.
I appreciate a little more the games where at some point the purely narrative part is put aside.
In addition here, it is completely optional.
There is a pragmatic side. The game does not have the harem tag, so we know in advance that we will have to choose.Are the people with these ridiculous # of playthroughs where they are solo with each girl doing so because of head canon "iM a SiMp" reasons or do the actually think there will be consequences to sleeping with the side girls or all of the main girls?
We also realized that some LI blocked certain relationships. For example, if we are with M + J, we cannot do anything with Cathy.
I'm not even talking about the last episode where having things with Cathy closes the route for Bella.
Instead of taking the risk of losing everything, or not being able to choose what you want, a lot of players do separate route.