Thanks!
I definitely wouldn't want the "starting over" scenario to become the norm in the new version. I’m sure I’ll come up with a solution for this, though I can't say for certain that *all* progression-based stats will carry over. Some will definitely need to be downgraded or reset—this is necessary to accommodate new mechanics, ensure the quest system functions correctly, and so on.
Take your relationship with Riya, for example. I definitely plan to downgrade that relationship to a third of its level in the new version if you’ve progressed beyond that point. This is simply required so that quests "register" and unlock properly. That sort of thing.
One thing I can say for sure: you won't have to grind your stats back up from scratch—I won't let that happen. Just keep in mind that I’ll be downgrading some data, but not entirely and not to zero. I still need to work out the details, and I’ll post an update about it on social media a bit later.
That’s a really interesting and important question!