Well, I guess I will jump in on this.
FIRST, thank you for the game, I know NOTHING about making something like this so for me you are doing good.
SECOND, while it might take time to reach a Mall, I would think it would be better to just say 'Some Time Later' as needing to drive for hours would make me look for small shops closer to home. One hour is about the MOST I would travel unless it was important or special.
THIRD, as always I think this game (like ALL others) NEEDS Chocolate Chip Cookie Content.
FOURTH, character development can be done over time (several episodes), so is NOT a major factor. If we reach update 6 or 12 or 83 without any development THEN there might be an issue.
FIFTH, I need to stop making lists, they just get to long.
SIXTH, as to the resist or not options, well I thought that it would be something that takes time. I felt the ability to fully resist would take a few attempts to figure out. So early we would fail, but as we fight, the results would get better until finally the MC would be fully in charge. Yes, I prefer to NOT have an ancient evil rule my mind, but we don't always get what we want.
Just a thought.