This comment makes me really happy, because basically everything you mentioned is what I was going for! I'm glad it seemed to come across.
As for the suspicion/hope mechanics and the easy mode, you were right not to notice them; the version uploaded right now is still the old version from last year's NaNoRenO. The devlogs reflect the work I've put into it this month, but I haven't tested that new version yet and it still has a few placeholder events (so some days would just be like, "a thing happens, what do you do, cool it has this effect, bye" lol). So you played it as it was before I did the work this month. Maybe I should make clear that I haven't uploaded the new version in those devlogs.
But yeah, I definitely wrote the Modder as neurodivergent and non-binary, and intended the commentary on both that and immigration through the crackdown on people with cybernetics. And I put a lot of work into including little details in many scenes that acknowledge your relationships with the characters if they come up when you've established something with them, so I'm really glad that effort came through and made the scenes feel a bit different for you! And I really like your summary of the themes at play, that you don't have to save the world to make a positive change. I wanted something that felt hopeful in the small ways despite all the hopelessness going on around you, you know? I'm glad that came through.
So yeah, the devlog changes aren't reflected in the version you played, but I'm really happy that my intent with the writing came through so well nonetheless! Thanks for the comment!