Thanks! That's really helpful actually.
I like the hunger meter, but IMO it drains just a tad too fast for my liking. Not enough that I'd want to turn relaxed mode on, but still... I wish the larger meals would slow the drain as a buff, or perhaps sleeping in a bed would reduce the drain while you sleep.
Yeah, I figured I'd try and Super Smash Brothers button mash my way out of it and it worked out. I like to imagine my character is flailing in bed and falls on the floor every time.
I feel the hunger is actually relatively balanced, though in the beginning your hurting for coin and can't really afford to waste money on food when you have to pay rent for a room.
I'd like to see more cooking options other than cooked meat and for some foods with shorter expiration to be longer.
The thing that gets me is my sleep. I'm always too tired after 12 in game hours and I have to nap for an hour or two to make sure I can stay up late enough otherwise I wake up way too early and I don't want to deal with whatever the hell a 'Shifting Figure' is at night.
If there is another way to cook or craft without roleplaying with an AI for it, I haven't found it yet. The most I've been able to do is cook meat, but maybe you can cook a turnip or those vislberry(?) herbs. Which I don't think shouldn't have an expiration on them. They're the only herb that does for some reason.
I think the idea is to make the AI more useful so you have a reason to talk to them more often. I know they can see and make comments about when your character is overburdened, wet, or tired. I suspect when the hunger icon appears in the upper right corner the NPC's can tell your hungry and will likely give you a free meal. I'm guessing it's the same for thirst and why they pour tea for you?