Sounds like a way too critical person compared to circumstances. It's basically indie production. Modern Banished on crack. Expecting the potential to be realized at launch is madness. Even when masterpiece CK2 launched no-one had any idea what it could truly become. 3 years later and still the potential is being realized.
5-800k at most = more than anything ever, since this is individual agent based simulation not random population numbers that mysteriously appear in certain columns (statistic based sim). Remember how someone pointed out lately that SC2013 lied 10x their population numbers at start.
Empty streets compared to X = I wonder what that other game is. Doesn't look likely that there is something vastly better based on DDs and videos.
For modding tools I'm also quite sceptical. They are likely lackluster at the start, but modders themselves seem to manage make some of them. Updates will likely bring more.
At least Asset Editor is known to exist and it will be bundled with the game (info from a Finnish dev stream).
TotallyMoo has stated that more info about modding is about to come out this week.
Please, people manage your expectations. Be reasonable. It will save you from overreacting at launch.
I feel safe preordering seeing as they have already done 2 nice releases (CiM1 and 2). 2 even had the same engine they use for Skylines.
I'm not a swearing person... but in this case, I'll make an exception:
F**KING +1!!!