Thank you for the kind words! We were just having this exact conversation on Discord.
Lore-wise, since the uniform resembles a skintight scuba jump-suit, there needed to be a way to regulate body temperature when worn. And since the inside of the suit "sticks" against your skin to prevent skin friction and rashes, there needed to be a place for the air to escape unless you want to look like a Michelin Man.
There are a few other practical reasons behind it, and some creative ones came from the Discord discussion; my favorite is that it's the V-Neck of the future.
You are right. A lot of thought, love, and resources have gone into the project, and it's something that I intend to work on for many years to come. <3
I enjoy crafting the choices, and I approach them like "running jokes" in some sitcoms, where they keep coming back in future episodes, even if it's just a line or two. I feel it makes the world feel more reactive and alive. The flip side is you can't allow them to run away and have a life of their own, so I *try* to limit hard branches to around 3,000 words before they have to join up with the main storyline again. Infinite Stars might not have tons of replayability, but I want it to be a unique, personal experience that follows the career of your Mah'Abeu over several years. A second play-through should still be refreshing, with lots of unseen content, but it will be the same story. I did a write-up about the design process on Patreon a while back, comparing it to a journey. You might drive or fly to your destination, and it will be two different experiences, but you'll still end up at the same place regardless.
Thanks for catching the typo! It's fixed now and will reflect in the next release!
Also, South Africa!! Wooo! \o/