Ultimately, what does this update do? I am not talking about the OP, I do not believe the game and it's players will simply change in the fashion that Alex wants them to, but, realistically, what would it achieve? More expensive resources. Less money. Fewer or shorter wars, depending on strategy. More improvements needed to maintain production levels. Struggles with pollution and disease. All of this will simply force the entire game to slow down, but be slowest for those at the bottom and fastest, but still somewhat slower though arguably of minimal difference, for those at the top. It will probably all work as it did before, everyone making probably the same moves as they would have otherwise, but just at a much slower pace. But just how slow it gets is anyone's guess. Perhaps too slow for some, or many.
Either way, this is Alex's game and he can do what he likes with it, and no one has to like it either. But I cannot say I know of many players that enjoy a slow game. In the end, people play games for the entertainment, and a slow game is not the most entertaining.