1. They are working on a bunch of nursing mother bugs/issues. Also, if you're pausing alot to grab relics, move villagers, whatever, it can seem to take longer. Also check the game speed setting.

2. Haven't really observed that myself. Occasionally teens might do that, but it's never disrupted work for me.

3, AGREED 1000%!! Having the rascal in was probably the worst design decision that the devs made, in possibly all of the VV games and they are really good devs. If there was a way to convert or get rid of the rascal early on rather than waiting for a certain god power to become available, I could be okay with it. For now, I just abuse the sticky spot glitch in the lake to maximum.

Seriously though, please don't add something that would be as disruptive as the rascal in VV6. I like the more relaxed atmosphere of the previous VV games.