Island Sanctuary feels intentionally slow and inefficient.

[NekoMataMata]

I know a lot of people don't watch PLLs, but this was something Yoshida covered many times—it's removed from existing systems so it can exist on its own terms without outside influence.
It's meant to be a personal thing for you to pursue that doesn't influence or affect the game outside of it in any way.

I mean that's what I thought, but I wasn't entirely sure. I'm not really sure anyone could be absolutely sure until it was fully released.

Also the shop with the blue cowries exists and that technically influences the outside game a little bit.

Crop growth is slow period. Even some housing crops take a week to grow depending on what it is. Would probably suggest just getting used to that.

As far as the time gating, why are we shocked? Time gating exists in many places in this game and makes sense that they'd apply it to IS as well.

I really wish some would realize that this game is catered to casuals (those who have jobs, real life responsibilities, families, those who can't no life everything). I'm someone who can no life and know better than to complain about things being time gated lol. I just accept the pacing and pick up other activities in game/another game to hold myself over while waiting.

I don't get why you're using casuals as a defense of time gates. If anything, the fact that this game is catered to casuals should mean time gates are more harmful. Wouldn't it be better if it was more flexible and less time gated so that casuals could spend time playing when they wanted? Imagine spending the whole week bogged down by work/school work + the rest of life and you just want to spend the weekend relaxing and building up your IS. Then you hit a couple of time gates and you can't do anything super meaningful with it for most of that free time.