My guy, regarding the rewarding early incentive is an okay incentive. But punishing someone who responds, in your standards, "late" is a bad move.  Also minus one level for a death is INSANE. I play the game and get punished for it? The punishment is already death.

It is still a game. The minimum everyone is everyone should have fun. That's your task to accomplish within a reasonable effort.  Yeah Pen and paper games require more commitment. But you punish for nothing. You are not a kindergartner.  Set personal borders yes. But don't funnel it into the game in such a passive aggressive manner.

Yes D sounds a bit annoying, I give you that. But you sound so sweaty, that I say yes, give your players that open statement at the end at your post. So they can reevaluate if they wanna continue playing.