See the no progress complaint isnt just referring to romance. But like the series is so stagnant for so long then you compare it to the author's other series with the shogi girl and thats had several status quo changes and cast additions that shake things up even while the romance angle remains roughly the same.
And even past that, this compared to the future spin off this just feels more repetitive where as that has the benefit of Chi being added to the dynamic and the fact they are already an established couple even if they dont act like it most the time.