your save files were in the low double digit KILOBYTES. this isnt 1992, no computer is struggling to handle that. the literaly only reason to add encryption (much less a non standard obscure one like you used) is to stop people from editing them.
the problem is, there is no meaningful progression. at least not for quite some time. im over here grinding out levels that dont do anything of note. even at level 900+ it takes my character 6 YEARS to gain a single point of body, which amounts to nothing. im sitting at 15 power and still get my shit pushed in by the last guy in that training yard whos sitting at 13 power but nearly 2x my health.
theres nothing in the shop for me to buy, except healing potions THAT I CANNOT USE IN BATTLE because i have to move over to the other tab, click the potion, THEN click use all before the 4 ticks it takes to kill me. theres some gear, but the first piece of gear is LITERALLY a trap you have to make players waste their money on a weapon so weak that it dosent help at all, 1 weapon that allows you to grind ONE enemy, and a piece of "armor" that adds such a low amount of health as to be worthless.
because there is virtually no ACTUAL progression. i raise skill levels just to...make it take much longer to raise skill levels. nothing of any real use unlocks, and the game is clearly balanced like one of those shitty "loop" games where you have a bunch of options, but no real choices because you HAVE to do everything in a very specific order EVERY SINGLE RUN to progress at all. theres no skills to influence the rate at which skill XP is accrued (or if there are, they take forever to unlock), nothing to increase money gains by a MEANINGFUL AMOUNT, and just no real choices across the board.