Wow, thank you so much for playing it 3 times and testing different builds! I am really glad you enjoyed the overall presentation, it is awesome that the spritework and the music fit the game so well and created a good atmosphere.
Your criticism is completely valid and actually gives me a great idea. Combining healing and defense into a single action sounds like a perfect way to solve the scaling problem and make those mechanics feel much more rewarding. Thank you for the awesome feedback and for making it all the way to stage 8!