I'm a fan of Stardock and their games. I have been outspoken against people complaining in a way that doesn't actually help the game, the company or the community. I am not happy with the way things have gone - I don't like it. Having said that, there are a couple of very important points that need to be considered.
- Stardock has a history of coming out with game concepts that we love, and making those games brilliantly.
- The company is made up of people who have a passion for games, from the CEO to probably the janitor (I guess).
- The staff have an unprecedented level of customer interaction and feedback, and they do listen.
- Brad has been very direct, honest and upfront in his admissions, and undoubtedly sincere in his promise to improve the situation. After all, he has a lot more at stake here than the rest of us.
It is understandable how this company and this ethic can inspire a lot of dedication, patience and forbearance in the community and the customer base. Not to mention the generosity in making the first expansion free to everyone, and the second free to early takers.
No one is saying that the game is fine the way it is, or that there aren't problems, or that the mistakes are not major. And I haven't seen anyone that I'd call an overzealous, gushing, fawning fanboy. Some people are judging the company by precedent and by the way the staff interact with the community, and have chosen to support the game by remaining positive and encouraging and by putting their views forward in a supportive way. Others have reacted to their own disappointment in a less than helpful way. To me it's just the difference between good feedback and useless ranting.
If you can't stand to stick with it, take a page out of rydndirtys book and leave it for a while. Go and do something else for a bit. But deciding to vent and/or rage in an unhelpful way just because you're not going to remain as invested as others is not exactly fair to the rest of the community, and not conducive to good Developer-Community relations and open communication.
As a closing note, I find it's easier to be light of heart about such things. You don't end up being half as upset as you thought you might.