This is my first time posting in this forum and I don't know if I can discuss without spoiling here so I will keep it as vague as possible.
I have been waiting for your review about this game for so long and I wasn't disappointed. I agree with you this game lacks of emotional impact than their latest titles. However, like you said it's top tier as charage and the comedy is quite good.
About your opinion on heroines, I mostly agree with you about Hio and Toune.
Liz's route is best route for me despite she is not main heroine. In my opinion, her bright personality and lacking of common sense fit every well with her situation. I mean at least if I was in her shoes I would be like her and act the way she does in the story. About the forced drama you said, I think it does make sense considered the it's the problem she has to face sooner or later and she did grow up a lot after getting together with Yuuto so I can sympathize with how she thinks and feels. I'm satisfied with the finale as well as determination of Yuuto to completely solve all of her problems along with her way of thinking about magic. I really think her route is the most consistent in this story.
Meanwhile I'm a bit disappointed with Setsuna's route. The drama is good and all but I feel like it's a bit forced here instead of Liz. I can't help but think they just try hard in making her issue worse and worse to push us readers into the emotional train wreck. After all of that, she has zero growing up as a character not to mention main heroine until the very end. And what she realizes is just something she should have done it from the beginning. Unless I missed something, the only thing she does in her entire route is making troubles for Yuuto.
Complains aside, this game for me is very good at pacing and mood making so I didn't feel bored at all while reading. The comedy is top notch too so it's easily my top favorite of this month.
Btw, I wrote a review (more like a walkthrough lol) in vndb so I would be happy if you spend time to read it too. I'm not veteran VN reader like you so my understanding level maybe not as good as you. I'm still learning so I would appreciate if you can give me your opinions on it.
Have a good day.