My problem with CoC 2 comes from the inconsistency & the blatant dishonesty on the end of the Devs. Also, as of late, the quality of the writing has fallen apart like a sandcastle in a hurricane, it's below some of the stuff written for CoC 1, ironically at times written by the same person.
I dunno, I agree with you but at the same time imo I feel like the problem is less the writing in particular and more of some of the original writers' projects being overshadowed by the newer wave, making the older projects stick out horribly. What I mean is compare aileh and freja to kiyoko and kinu. Directly connected to story and other romantic interest, better parent sim, no forced parental issues, can interact with and name kid, varied smut scenes.
And also if the foundation is weak what's built on top suffers. if you have a scene by wsan, continuing the current course, where you go on a date with brint/brienne and they hug and bang mc or you propose to them and it's a very emotional moment, it's a safe bet people will be happy and might make people who were on the fence like them because they've already been made likeable and are getting more reasons.
if tobs made more kiyoko content, most likely it would have the same or more of her abrasive comments and personality and would appeal primarily to people who would like it regardless. If he attempted to give kiyoko a character arc where she respected your character, was harsher on people who insult you, was more proactive with you and *wanted* you to join her in doing stuff together besides smut, and honestly just retconned the entire novella, then to make her as near universally likeable for her niche as brienne is now without altering what's already there you'd need double the work. To change her to a "neutral" reception where maybe it's not super common to like her but she's not worse the more you observe her actions, then to create moments to build player attachment like briennes little date moments, seeking you out and saying she needs you etc. (Which you'd think a kitsune would do when they're hungry and married to you). That's unlikely but possible. Issue is that's the case with several characters now, see caits reception for the past however many years, the marriage scene fiasco, stuff like the lusamine gangbang while you wait outside scene etc etc
