i like this game better then RS1.
Although i don't like the very limited gifting, i love that there is only one kind of gift. In RS1 you also couldn't choose yourself what to gift. You're neighbors told you that (most of them). Leaving you with a notebook next to your phone/ipad if you wanted to keep those neighbors. If you choose to stick to your own kind of gifting, you better not read your wall, because you risked to read nasty comments about the gift you sended.
I also love the water-cane. It earns more then tips. So i don't understand why i read here that it's a waste of time to give costumers water. Tipping in RS1 is more a wast of time, because only half of the tips you gave, are returned. Plus giving water is stress-free. In Rs1 tipping is too much of a big deal to others. Another rule of a lot of neighbors, next to the gift preference is that a lot wants you to be a regular/daily tipper. Or otherwise ---> delete. The water-cane gives you the coins you want without doing a lot. I truly appreciate that.
Next thing i don't understand what is said here, is that rs2 is only waiting, waiting, waiting... Well, in my opinion rs2 is much more active then rs1. There is a lot to do. In rs1 i was a lot more bored. Next to placing food on your ovens and tipping... There's nothing more to do then waiting.
I don't think it's an issue that you can't keep your counters full. I'm only level 17 and i remember from RS1 that it wasn't different in that early stage. Plus counters are expensive in RS2 on this level, so i'm happy the food sels quickly so i don't have to wait very long to place a dish that isn't on the counters yet. So i can continue cooking fast on that appliance.
I'm very curious how this game evoluates in the future. I think they did a great job making it different then RS1. Which gave me nothing more then stress with the way others wanted you to play your game. It felt more then a second job then a game.. I deleted that game and i am more then happy with RS2. :-)
( this is not my game id, because i don't like to share that, so no need to send an invite :-)..... Another side -effect from RS1 ;-) :-) )