I don't think this is fair at all. I think the negative sentiment around this game is not about sandbox or VN, it's purely about the cycle of over-promising and under-delivering.
I remember posts from a year ago (here and on patreon) suggesting that Moon date, Nun Quest, Beatrice Quest, University Quest and Sage Explosion event were all just around the corner. I don't think any of this is finished right now.
Instead, as others have pointed out, a bunch of other stuff has been introduced that we're told is essential for the flow of the game. This coupled with the periods of radio silence and the sporadic communications updates, rightly, make people nervous.
This idea that trolls are forcing the dev to make a linear VN is ridiculous. Since when did Moolah change his game to appease the Zone? The last time people complained about puzzles, he put in a full quiz!