i still not convinced. most of the variables decrease on every loop (loot, time, in some cases choice) and there is some change on player skill after every loop too (more knowledge and very understanding of the mechanics) but i acknowledge that most of the incremental i play are also idle type. so do you have other examples of this type of incremental so i can have a better understanding of your point of view.
you make a good point in that it is a very active game, unlike Cookie Clicker or other similar titles.
This does not however change the fact that it is a game in which you incrementally improve your stats through repetitive actions, which to me makes it an incremental game.
I like Terraformental because, unlike other idle/incremental games, it has more input and story so there is actually something more to do than just watch the numbers go up.