Thank you for playing and taking the time to leave such detailed feedback! This is our first jam, so it makes us really happy that our hard work paid off into something that feels polished and satisfying to play. ^^
We completely agree with some of the things you pointed out - the randomness does go both ways, so more player agency does feel needed, especially in those first few turns. We will also continue to consider other options of handling losing turns, such as adding a second chance mechanic like you suggested, as it seems something a bit more forgiving would be more enjoyable to most players (currently it maybe feels more like a challenge mode). We're really glad you enjoyed though, and thank you again for leaving such great feedback! :)