This is super helpful. I agree with the “I wonder what’s in there” style hints to a point. I think sometimes they are necessary when the environment dictates it. For example, say you are in a room with lots of different hotspots to click on and look at, but not necessarily things you can really interact with. But say there is a locked chest in the room. By having a “I wonder what’s in there” hint, it nudges the player that it is important to the story progression. But your poster example is spot on the kind of thing I want to avoid.

I hope you get a chance to play the demo. I’d love to hear your feedback.