Mash Karas wrote...
And I only play visual novels every once in a good while. So when I do play them, I want them to give me choices, not push me down one given path.
It seems that you need to make some reseach on a VN before you start to read it to avoid these kinds of things. Check their tags for example. I'm under the impression that you're kind of new to VNs so you'll probably want to check
VNDB for info about them.
Also, what you mention of
Mash Karas wrote...
Wherefore does a common visual novel producer add next to naught interactivity in their games?
They seem to not realise that:
Me -> Store -> Visual Novel -> $$$ -> Home -> PC -> Waiting... -> More waiting... -> ... -> The End = D:<
Well, I can say to you that
LOT'S of people just read those types of VNs. A VN doesn't need to have gameplay to entertain who is reading it. It's all up to the tastes of each one so what you are saying about the companies not realising that VNs need gameplay is extremely subjective.
Remember that there are people who don't like much gameplay in a VN.
It can also be added that companies usually have a audience. In other words, many companies know that many people won't enjoy their games but even so they still keep working on what they want because there's a group of people who will enjoy their games. The marketing policy of each company is up to them.
This also applies to free works. The group responsible for the project has it's own audience.
Basically, if you only love VNs with some kind of gameplay, search for VNs with gameplay. If not, bear in mind that you probably won't enjoy it that much. This is something you choose to do, not something that someone (a producer for example) makes you do so in those cases, save your critics for your opinion regarding the story and not for something that isn't in the VN.