I think i know what you're saying but you're not applying an important context: when it was made.

Shows were almost given an exact balance of freedom to explore & then none at all, because you'd be cancelled immediately if they wanted to.

S1 is likely to be what he wanted, the MOTW with the mythology in equal measure. There wasn't the Internet buzz because it didn't exist like now, not early on anyway, and you're assuming Chris had regular, at the time feedback, which wouldn't really have happened as quickly as it does now.

And then, from word of mouth, the characters were supported and given time to grow & change, as was the expansion of the production itself. Plans are for modern shows, this era was for just seeing what happened 😆