Thanks again for the feedback, it really helped shape the last update!
The nights don't interrupt you after every shift anymore. There's now a night threat meter: it fills up as you work your shifts, so you can mine several shifts in a row and only defend when you're ready (DEFEND NOW button, or the N key). If you wait longer, the night gets bigger, but it also drops more scrap. Every night now has 3 waves and a boss at the end, and the ore you dig up turns into special rounds for the fight, so the mine and the outpost help each other.
The nights are still part of the game, but now you decide when they come. And there's more coming soon, so stay tuned! ⛏️