probably not...if the speed of development on satisfactory is any indication

Dunno why people treat public test patches as though they're released. I'd say yes once the update actually hits but no, it's not worth playing the public test and screwing up your saves if you don't want to back them up. It's just a test, after all.

Biggest self imposed handicap for me is no bows. I use spears for ranged, hard to get the hang of but really effective once you do. Bows just make the game such a cakewalk. If melee is still too easy, then remove the helmet from your armor and progress like normal.

I've been playing permadeath runs to spice it up and that has been fun. It has added some extra mileage to the game, though I haven't jumped on the test server and will just wait for that. Also I haven't made it to the mountains in that mode yet, which is mostly what's on test at the moment.

Hearth and Home made some changes to combat and blocking and added new recipes and a new ingredient, also found in the mountains, and a new building material and new critters in the plains. (Not sure if you were here for that update or not.) We've also had a swamp update adding a new big bad and a new armor set.

Mistlands is not out yet but they are actively working on it.

Up to you if that's enough to get you back into it.