I agree with you. It's definitely still a harem, even if you don't pursue an LI. For instance, I don't like "mom" characters so I avoid them. Doesn't mean the game I'm playing isn't a harem, it's just I'm not choosing to 100% it, if you will. This one I wanted to 100% (eventually). When I first played this game, I avoided Yui because she was kind of a bitch, Wendy because she posted lewds online, and Elaine because she got around. My preferences have since changed and none of that stuff bothers me anymore. Right before Chapter 3 I went back and replayed the entire game from the start and chose to "catch 'em all". Also, all the girls are super attractive and there is a nice variance of body types.
Eira is still my favorite, but I think she got done dirty, especially with that hospital scene. I wanted better for her. Also, if she was beaten up the day before, she's so meek that I feel like she wouldn't be up for something as strenuous as sex the next day.
As for the "this isn't a harem anymore" argument... tensions and emotions ran high because of how late this happened into the project, and misunderstands of what does/does not count as... those letters... to this kink. All we can do now is wait and see what comes of this. I'm not going to say I have high hopes because I've seen other projects where the dev makes a change to better suite the harem crowd and then goes on to make another one in the very next update. However, I'm optimistic yet cautious. Also, feels like we're near the end? I don't know if it was ever stated how long this was going to be, but now that we've chosen how to handle Victor, I can't imagine there is a lot left, unless we're up for a fight with him. But, we still don't have a lot of interactions with the new fam, so maybe we're only like halfway done? Tough to tell considering the MC's timeframe for getting the blueprints to Victor is relatively soon.
Curious about the siding with him route. I think when I try that when it's implemented I will replay and reject everyone and play the emotionally dead MC to a fault. Should be interesting, and we'll at least still have Mila(?) at the end.