yes, I'm glad you mentioned anthropomorphic characters as I plan to make a game that will feature exactly that in an medieval set. This is why I want to keep Yare 3 free of it. But that's for the future.
There is no way for a simple project, not any longer. The story that will complete all 3 games together is already written, more than 20 pages of dialogue. I did this summer.
The reason I'd like to use newer technologies is because, apart from better graphics and overall render quality, those might open up the path to virtual reality and stable games. But there are, like I said, downsides to it. So I was just toying with it in my spare time. But like you concluded, I should quit fooling around and do actual work. 15-20 minutes a day would get me far, probably. Fortune rewards those who are consistent, right?