Thanks for giving it a try and taking the time to write all this up! The point about unlocking more mechanics without the experience really changing is especially helpful. Having lots of upgrades doesn’t mean much if they all feel like different ways to increase the same number.
I’ll look into making the upgrade choices more distinct and giving players bigger milestones worth saving for. And don’t worry about not having a specific solution — knowing what felt unrewarding and why is already useful. I’ll revisit the title screen music too. I appreciate the honest feedback!