Originally posted by umop-apisdn:

Citation needed; that sounds like either a bug, or player error.
"Pics or it didn't happen."

Have you played the game?

All it takes is trying to flatten out the first area for your first house or trying to dig out a copper node to see that the hoe doesn't dig down eight metres all the time.

Eight metres is taller than you. I have had the ground barely move when trying to flatten it or dig out copper ore nodes.