Random observation

[Saraide]

Island sanctuary is precisely what was advertised. Your expectations don't factor into the equation at all.

What was it advertised as? For a lot of time between the first announcement and the release the only info I could find were a few examples of what not to expect. SE stands to directly profit (short term atleast) from hype prior to the expansion launch, this should mean that they have a larger responsibility to try to keep expectations accurate. Instead it seems to me they left that hype train to its own device. Therefore I think it's also their fault that people are disappointed in IS.

[Deveryn]

What was it advertised as? For a lot of time between the first announcement and the release the only info I could find were a few examples of what not to expect. SE stands to directly profit (short term atleast) from hype prior to the expansion launch, this should mean that they have a larger responsibility to try to keep expectations accurate. Instead it seems to me they left that hype train to its own device. Therefore I think it's also their fault that people are disappointed in IS.

The hype existed where it needed to for the expansion and this wasn't something that needed any hype. Since the fanfest last year, they made it clear that this was going to be super casual laid back content.

"Live the slow life."
"Place buildings, raise crops and take care of animals."
I got all I needed to know from those two sentences.

Any kind of "hype" would've been overkill. They told people what not to expect because they were absolutely misreading it and creating their own fantasy and hype. Players dug their own pit on that one.