I saw you updated Renpy in the post between .25 and .26....beta tests should have caught this and another work around other than swapping saves and changing name. Maybe put something in the OP about it (perhaps with a direct link to the Patreon Post explaining it)
I, for one, don't like using others saves (if I can avoid it) as my saves have my emotions tied to it (and yes, while it's the same story, someone else worked hard in that save so it doesn't feel like mine)
Just my 2 cents simply because I Beta test once in a while so it could have had a better work around. I'm not faulting you for the suggestions you made, but something should have been added to the OP that starting with 0.26, old saves might not work properly, or something along those lines (for people who don't check your Patreon Page)