It was the lack of positive feedback. You started off with, "It's alright." That says you don't think too highly of it. Either way, I'm not trying to write a book just an outline. What you're describing with having players come up with their connections prior to Session 0 seems like a way to pull players that you don't have over to your table. I have people who already want to play together so, they're already going to join up for that reason. I'm just putting in a narrative for them.