Hey, i've played DoL and i've seen a lot of good stuff in it, problem with it was and still is (for me, since i don't like hardcore abusive content, there's people that like that kind of thing and i fully respect them, whatever rocks their boat), the fact that the entire game is so focused in the victim fetish that you could say the're using a sniper scope. I remember seeing a discussion between some guys on their discord on how they're gonna make even the "love interests" be even more of a detriment for the player, so you can't really go and play that game while looking for any other kind of content. There was at least one "love interest" in that game that was supposed to be only wholesome as a relationship, but last time i checked their discussions they were making it be a toxid relationship as well. So it's one of those games that you can't really go into it and play it expecting anything other than that kind of content.
I'm all for a game, especially simulators, having an open mind to content so the dev can grab hold of more people, but there are games, like DoL, that want to only focus on some kinds of content and not include any more. It's all good for them, they can totally go and do that, but it's gonna push people that are not into what they're going for away. In DoL's case, it's hardcore abuse and victim fetish, being in abusive relationships, the player character always being the victim of rape/beat ups/blackmails, you name it.
The reason i said that i didn't want this project to follow DoL is because i hate that kind of content. I wish this game could offer the player a choice or ways to overcome or avoid such scenarios by leveling their skills or finding equipment, as well as being able to find relationships that are not incredibly abusive or rapeish, but stable or wholesome (to some extent at least, if the dev wishes to expand relationships in the future). It would just be really disappointing if this was one of those games that only focused on abusive content and victim fetish instead of giving the player control over how they go around the game world and seek the content they wanted.