The huge delay, one year (say what you want but it has been 11 month since the last no bullshit update), is due to animations imo.
There is no way the animations are done. It is extremely easy to put them in the game when you have those, conclusion: they are not there yet, but why? Because the bar was set too high. Remember the 100% on patreon, the one with the achievement no more crappy animations? That is the cause of the delay imo. He has to learn how to make top level animations. Icstor is a hard worker, or at least a worker, compared to let's say dark cookie. But he is also a perfectionist given the quality of the game, that I guess none can confute. Thus I guess he tried to learn how to make these new animations but was not satisfied and so he goes on and on delaying the game until he gets there.
Moral: fuck the new animations (to some extent) I can't wait anymore. Wish the game was released "a lot sooner"