Using the existing var is indeed the most efficient way. There's no other reason for that var to be there other than for dialogue changes anyway (it ways no bearing on the story itself). So I concur. We'll see if it's altered in final... but you'll find many of these little dialogue issues tbh.
I take no offense but, I'm obviously offering an educated guesstimate in my post regarding timelines as I'm not involved with the VN's development. I know there are more render to still do according to her own words in the "test" build:
Python:
z "Hi this is Tess! You've reached the end of the Test Version! I'll be adding at least four to five scenes and an ending here for the Final Version!"
z "I would recommend that you make your final saves for Episode 8, Part II with the Final Version since I am likely to add a few new choice flags in prior scenes."
z "Also, please feel free to send me feedback about the minor surprise hunter...it's not my intent to make myself a major character but it's a special request from my biggest slave."
z "Just going to have a little fun with it...but it will only be an optional small branch and not impact the main hunting narrative."
z "Anyway, hope you had a really great time! I will write a much more in depth outro for the Final Version, have a great day all!"
So, according to that there's "at least four to five scenes and an ending here" to be added, plus "I will write a much more in depth outro for the Final Version", etc.
Rending takes time, and if it were done then she would have included those images/animations in the Test build since the dialogue takes significantly much less time to knock out than rendering or coding.
Again, this is all speculation on my part but I work with many dev teams and have a feel for approximating timelines... I feel my projected 1-6 weeks is appropriate considering the circumstances. On the lower end if nothing much at all is fixed and the product is rushed out, and toward the higher end if proper final development (including all the stated items to be added by the dev herself) are to be correctly implemented.... not to mention all the existing code tweaking that is still needed for proper scene transitions, dialogue corrections, etc.
I'm not debating anything here... I'm just offering the evidence I used to calculate my speculation. I don't see how anyone would read my previous post to be anything other than my opinion... but I reckon there could a few that might knowing this site