I dont think it's a time saving measure at all.
It's to avoid abandoned characters where the first doc gets submitted and put in then nothing else ever.
I see, so it's more of a safeguard against content that's put in barebones on the expectation that it'll be improved upon later, but has the risk of the author ghosting the project altogether.
Regardless, the quality of writing still takes a hit. The tendency of half-baked characters being added might've decreased but it encourages content authors to get to the sex as fast as possible, which throws intimacy or building rapport with the character out the window.
All of this made me realize that it's hard to write intimacy in this game when Savarrans treat sex almost like a handshake, then have the added rule of sex by first draft. The only type of character that has room for intimacy are the companions and only Brienne, Kiyoko and Ryn seems to fulfill that role, you can't really expect intimacy from:
1) Town Bicycle Cat Priestess
2) Dude Bro Minotaur
3) Date Rape Douche Rabbit
4) Literally Who Dullahan
5) Rapist Slaver Orc
6) The Most Bland Redhead Witch Ever
7) Hornet that leads you on but turns out to be a lesbian
Abandoned without sex scenes? I...don't think that's happened at all.
Nelia the goblin seamstress comes to mind, she seems almost like bait, dangled in front of the player as this shortstack milf. But you can't have sex with her.