With all the negativity going around I might as well express something positive.
I loved seeing my creature come to life, to see the various social animations and antics. That for me made the game much more personal than customizing the buildings and vehicles, they don't replicate the same experience that a expressive creature does.
The civ and space stage lost quite a bit of this as the creatures became a minor item among gigantic buildings and vehicles. I feel detached from my creature in these stages; which is why I wish I had more time to watch them just go about their business than constantly having to go do something.
The game needs more chill time to bask in your creation, not constant rush rush to manage everything.