I think best games are not linear, which mean player do have ability to choose what he want to do in game and how he want to do this.
Which leading us to multiple solution to one problem or goal. In this sense have many variants to live in Portia and earn money - is good! Actually it will be bad if we do not have choice. Maybe in future you will come up with something else (another alternative to workshop and farming) and include it in game too - and this would be awesome!