I never thought of Lust for Adventure as a visual novel.Not sure RenPy can handle all these 3D models and Animations.
I agree it'd been better as "VN focus with RPG elements".
But I don't thinks it's "gone to shit", it's never been good on the "gameplay" front (I never played it as an RPG), a few interesting ideas, but never went beyond that.
Not to mention gameplay never feels like a focus for the dev, it's always about modelling / rendering / animating.
In my opinion, the author chose a good balance, not very simple, but at the same time not too boring.
If the author can be reproached for anything, it is that there is too much variety of NPCs, which do not complement the story, but rather ruin it. But I think that in the future the author will tie all the threads of the story into a single ball.
Personally, I’m a little bored because the Academy, in my personal opinion, was unfinished.
There are not enough scenes in the shower, not those according to the script, but those that the player himself could have done.
There are not enough bedroom scenes. Many guys there lie in such positions that they directly beckon you to them, and this is technically impossible to do.
But let me emphasize that this is my view of the situation, and not a complaint to the author.
By the way, the issue of sperm collection has not yet been resolved. That is, it’s clear that we make elixirs from it, but for what? Maybe the author has not yet figured out why this is needed.
And one more point, which was first mentioned on this forum.
Possibility to have sex with NPCs after the mission is completed. This means after the end of the NPC arc. Just go in and fuck the blacksmith (as an example)
Before introducing new characters, it seems to me, it is necessary to bring to its logical conclusion what has already been done.
In any case, I wish the author good luck