This is the #1 thing that had me worried since day one about the game.
The time-gating behind town upgrades, material crafting, resource respawn and the “log-off bonus” seems like this game is going to turn into a live-service eventually, wich is not what they did advertise in the beginning.
I can’t really see no other reasons to put this limitations. And no, i don’t believe that is something that is being done to give early access players more stuff to do.
In the worst case scenario i can totally see this game going F2P.
I really wish someone would prove me wrong.