I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment. I'm still in the process of playing right now, but it was made quite clear that the inkpots were useless outside of battles within the first couple hours.

The food is also a bit confusing because instead of getting food to sell, it credits your yen purse. Which is fine, but then why not just make them coins instead?

The weaponry not being clearly differentiated led me to choose whatever I think is prettier at the time.

There's also a problem with not being able to know for sure whether this is some quest you need to do, or the game would just like you to do.

I love the game, I really do, but those things really stick out in an otherwise wonderful experience.

I'm also very upset with the people who told me it would take 8 hours to complete. I've never played a game for this long.