Thanks again! Noted all the interesting points you mentioned.
"Will save files still work with new builds when they are released?" - Saves starting from 0.12.3 works just fine with the latest (0.12.6) build. So no need to start the new game.
"If you plan for everything to be connected" - It's all connected and my idea to make non-linear story so the player can choose different paths each time and see different parts of the story.
"which is difficult to do for even a whole studio" - Maybe, but I'll do it anyway because I just don't want to make some simple game/vn that has 1-2 hours of gameplay and would be forgotten in a month. Plus the funniest part that some players don't want to support my game because they don't billieve in a solo dev (or just wait me to fail), but when it comes to their opinion/review they criticize it like it's a AAA game.
"Buying a house takes way too long" - I got it, and as already said I would make a new difficulty level that would make it easier. Plus I'll think about your suggestion. And just to be clear... it's my way of playing and I understand that it's not suitable for all the players. I like more hard gameplay where you start the game with just basic items and have to survive. So that's why your own house is so expensive because it solves some basic problems, like: has the place to sleep + you can cook on the stove and no need to pay someone.
"some portion of an area that is dead" - You would be finding some parts of the game world rotting and completing some "tasks" (cleaning these areas from enemies/killing bosses) would "fix" the area so it would slowly go back to normal over time.
"The bathhouse" - I have that in plans but I was thinking to change the bathhouse model first it make it look more proper.
"miniture pony sized body" - I know but trust me it made animating the scene with her way easier... otherwise, I would have to put some kind of object under the player (bucket for example...).