Hello, thank you for a huge review~
I totally will add a fast return to the tavern once you unlock it, this is a great idea that I just never though of, as well as allowing to hold the movement button.
Some sort of a fast travel system once you clear the rooms is obviously a good QoL thing to do, I just had no time to properly implement it since it would require a lot of thinking of where and when player want to get for the second time
With potions I also got into problem when deciding whether collecting ingredients them should be absolutely necessary before the very late game or not. My thought process was that getting potions helps you fight snakes instead of dodging them or getting damaged, one ingredient is required to defeat the Gorgon since you need to double move onto her, ether snake milk or all of other three ingredients are required to get the trap for nymph and obviously it is much easier to beat the Manticore with potions. In most of the situations though you are not forced to use them and are allowed to experiment and find other ways around (such as killing snakes with traps, didn't thought of it being a strat in the Trap room)
And guess I broke the restart button at some point and haven't noticed, thank you for reporting that!