APC is how I discovered you and your work, and while as a player I'm super attached to the game and any updates you give us, as a fellow dev I completely understand how and why things change! (Also for you to stick with it for 10 years??? You have my full adoration lol!! Pretty sure I would have rage quit myself.)
The only opinion I can offer is to tell the story however it needs to be told. Even if it's completely different from the original plans. I learned the hard way that forcing a project to go in a certain direction when something in you is saying otherwise doesn't...end well 😫
Anyhoo, sending support and cheering for you from the sidelines always!!!