There is basically one person who does the main coding.

The game was his vision/dream.

This may limit how fast they can get things done. But the popularity of the game made them basically step back and work on bugs and player suggestions.

Although this has considerably slowed down expansion of the game, they have taken the time to make a solid framework <and still working on it to make it better>... so there is a solid foundation to build / balance the rest of the content when it comes.

While covid did play some part in slowing things down I don't really think it is as big a factor as it just being a small team. And no matter how much money they made you just can't throw people in that have the same vision for the game.. keeping a small team means they can keep the quality up where they want it to be.

What they have done so far is really brilliant honestly. Nothing ground breaking in of itself but How they did everything is what makes it. People talk about clones coming along to take advantage of its popularity but so many have already come and failed hard its funny.