No need to apologize ;-)
I agree with your "everybody finds different things important" statement.
It is just my personal belief that the UI matters most, particularly in entertainment software. Because the UI is what any player interacts with all the time. It's the same with tools: if a tool fits your hands well, working with it is a joy. If the grip hurts because of it's awkward shape, your work is painful.
I strongly believe that good access to the available features is of greater importance than additional features. Five easy to use features give me more joy than ten inaccessible features. (I know I'm exaggerating.)
That being said, I love the humorous appearance of your game. I'm impressed by what you've accomplished in the past two weeks. And I'm glad I discovered Autonauts. It's fun to play and I'm very curious as to where it will go.