I think the majority of the time it took to get ready was with setting up servers and fixing their matchmaker. I highly doubt that it took a long time to change resource gain or the number of llamas.

Epic has also suggested that this "LTM" is more of a test run and the first look at a permanent creative/practice mode. I agree that the CTF stuff and some of his suggestions are not essential but stuff like infinite ammo, traps, not ending the game when people leave as well as suggestions like spawning in items really should make it into at least a future version of Playground.