Thanks for the feedback!
Yes, and it really forces players to strategize with what the game offers. Deferring in the early rounds for bulk discounts is much required, but at the cost of your poor forearm (the pain is spreading, ha). Being aggressive with farming as many units as quickly as possible, even allowing say the crab tank to hit the core and taking 3 one-eyed enemies instead. It is also possible continue to click, and then hold for more pitch forks to be thrown.
Tsundown played on their stream and was able to get to wave 16. During my plays I was able to get to wave 18 and I think the theoretical max possible level is 20 due to HP being 1.4^wave and gold doesn't scale with the wave.