It's kind of weird actually. I want to like TiTs more than CoC2. And I do like quite a few of the characters more, but the storyline and quests just aren't as engaging for me.
I agree with pretty much everything you've said (from what I know/have played of the game thus far).
Though I'd seen TiTs on the site before, I hadn't known it was a game like CoC2 until some time in - so CoC2 was like my introduction to Fenoxo's style of game and I had sorta high expectations for their other work as a result.
It's not that TiTs is bad by any stretch of the imagination (nor that I have any issue with the sex in it or whatever), but I find having depth to the bonds you form with
certain characters, such as romance/very-close-friends-with-benefits/bromance/etc, is much more enjoyable then just straight-up sex
across the board. That's what I liked about Brint in CoC2. Also, you would think a potentially enigmatic character like Steele, especially considering everything that they have going for them, would have at least some people who want more from them then just a quick fuck. Just saying.
From my experience, CoC2 delivered in that way, while I'm yet to see it in TiTs.
The biggest mistake of TITS was making Crew content, its fine bringing in useful people but holy hell whats the point the game turned into collect the next waifu for the past few years and it's all so predictable.
They exist only for quick access to scenes and cheap interactions anytime they run out of ideas. You got a literal planet worth of interaction in one ship compared to Tarkus, Myrellion and New Texas.
I agree that the crew does feel more like Steele's personal harem here; a sort of cheap way to get the player's rocks off without taking the time to add depth and meaning to any of these relationships, nor contribute to the actual story in any meaningful way. It also makes Planet content feel less important if you can get immediate gratification from so many sources without ever having to leave the ship for it instead.
From what I've seen, the sheer ratio of female to male crew mates is kinda crazy too. I get the sense that that was probably determined by their Patreon supporters and the particular demographic they're comprised of, rather then what the devs planned from the start.
It kinda make me wonder if it's not a mistake to let fans dictate game content to such a degree, rather then the devs having a solid plan for themselves that they don't deviate from. Because from what I've seen it often ends up with the story/experience skewed in some way, or kinda directionless as they drag the project out over time.
But anyway, that's just my opinion from my current experience with it. I could be wrong.