I'm not going to butt into this conversation too much since I did not back this particular project and, therefore, don't have a dog in this particular project's proverbial hunt.
However, I do have a stake in how well this community is doing, and I have to say, Holy Crap, Alex, my proverbial hat is off to you for posting such a detailed and thoughtful response to the previous posts. Well done! I continue to appreciate very much your participation in the conversations here, that you don't shrink away from bad news or controversy, and that you don't take an attitude that has sometimes soured other card designers' relationship with the community.
I also want to say that I think the way you have handled the popular demand for this project is as fair and reasonable as can be expected. You have shown similar class in the past, and I'll note that I have benefited from your kindness when I was able to "back" a project after the KS window had closed. Your willingness to try to accommodate as many in the community as you can while still sticking to your originally stated goals for "limitedness" is exemplary.
Something I have noticed these days in the world in general is that no matter the topic, there will always be some who greet it with skepticism or criticism. That is not to say that some people are always negative, but rather, that there will always be negativity from somewhere. (The distinction is important. I'm not criticizing the people who criticized you; rather, I'm saying that if they weren't criticizing you for the choice you made, someone else would have criticized you for making a different choice.)
The larger your success, the more people involved. The more people involved, the more opportunities for someone to criticize. And, let's face it, the more people involved, the harder the decisions you have to make to try to please your backers.
This is all by way of saying that I'm trying to address this point that you made at the end of your recent post:
Your decision *was* greeted with optimism. Exceedingly so, in fact, if the numbers of your backers and pledges are any guide, and also if you review the conversation here. But, yes, since more people were involved, there were also more voices in criticism. I'm glad that you hear them, but I hope you take into account proportionality. They are not the majority. I hope you hear the people who are excited and happy about your decisions, too.I thought it would be greeted with optimism but is instead met with pessimism and attacks on character. Makes me reconsider why I do this.
Healthy criticism (even if it's expressed inartfully) can actually be a useful guide, but don't let it drown out the voices of support. And, when your critics resort to attacks on character, please take it with a grain of salt, just as you should take with a grain of salt your fans' suggestions that you be nominated for sainthood.
So, TLDR; Thanks for keeping it classy, Alex, and please don't let the critics grind you down.
PS: While I was writing this, sinjin7 just posted a far more eloquent post along the same lines. So, add my voice to that choir.
