So I certainly see the points you make.
For example, the building up stage to me definitely WAS fun. It was so exciting to finally get my first new building, and then the next and the one after that. I had such a sense of achievement.
HOWEVER; that first initial expansion - is still a week or two away. I think most starter packages make around 2k per day - and a single new building (from what I remember) is around 12k which is 6 days not factoring in the cost of fuel!
To clarify, I’m not suggesting taking the starter packages straight in to mid-game; but instead simply giving them a nudge to skip just that very first week (heck even just those first couple days) so that getting that first new building can be done within a matter of hours rather than a week.
For your point about decreasing the time taken to reach end game - I am coming up to 6 months time played now and I would say I am only just entering mid-game and am certainly still a long way off end-game level. So I really don’t think reducing this timespan by a week is the end of the world.
Now your point about those are inclined will stay, and those who wont, wont regardless - now that point has some validity. And that’s where some market research (above my paygrade) would need to determine if this could be a potential solution.
I guess the question is: Is there a group of players, that WOULD like this game, but just don’t quite make it past the first few hours because get lost in the first day or so waiting; perhaps they don’t realise just how much things ramp up.