The problem with restarting map/sandbox games is that they are often the most grindy games - make money, buy inventory, score points with npc's, etc. So, when the developer has come up with half-a-dozen releases which force a restart, who wants to? I point to Dreaming of Dana and Max's Life as two games, whose developers have managed to write such games without forcing restarts with each release. Personally, I drop grindy games that force restarts too late in the release cycle, regardless of how much I might like them. I don't play Teachers' Pets or Summertime Saga any more (and have dropped support) for that very reason. I have too many other games to play (I have a queue of about 30 releases to get to) to waste time restarting games and redoing grinds.
I cut F.I.L.F. some slack, since the engine was just changed, and there are obviously some growing pains with that. That, and the developer has produced good product in the past. My patience, though, is not unlimited.
