I think people have it twisted, that asking is a bad thing - which it isn't. It's not taking anything away from them and it's not making it any less for them. Like you said, it's important for you to see yourself represented. This is a fictional scenario people may want to headcanon and immerse themselves in, myself included. It shouldn't matter to anyone but me how I see myself as the MC - regardless if it's a female lead or not.
It's totally fine about the backgrounds, understandable about development times and costs.
Steam release is exciting to hear though.
Thanks for replying