I'll continue to work to improve the overall gameplay mechanics so as to try and make it more approachable in the future.
Regarding the public versions I understand where you're coming from, but the long and short of it is just that's how I prefer to work, that is, with a smaller closed alpha environment and once in a blue moon making a public release.
Whether this is a good or bad approach is therefore besides the point, since in the end this is how I'm more comfortable working and continuing to develop the game towards a completed project.