@pluralistic
The charedi community also has a complicated relationship with computers, especially in their homes. This could be a good subplot, but I didn't feel that you acknowledged it.

I'd be happy to put you in touch with charedim or queer observant Jews if you would like to get a deeper perspective.
2/2

@lachlan Wingspan is a fun game and doesn't target the same audience as 18xx. In that case I'd say opaqueness is bad, but there's no way to completely remove it without making the game pointless.

4/4

@lachlan For a final example, the most-played game at my house is Wingspan, usually between my wife and me.

I try to make a vague strategy out of my first birds. My wife looks at each bird individually and chooses based on whether they have interesting powers, without regard to how they will fit into an overall engine.

Not surprisingly, I win most of our games. From my wife's perspective, it's opaque how my first couple turns set the field for my ultimate win.

3/

@lachlan On the other end, it'll only take you a single play to realize that you shouldn't put your first Catan settlement bordering the desert and a portless coast.

I've played Catan against people much better than me. When I look back after losing, I see how their starting spots gave them the edge that turned into cities and development cards.

But in the end I don't care enough for Catan to actively work on improving.

2/