I replayed Far: Lone Sails to get the final achievements I was missing, and I couldn't help thinking about the ways in which it and Changing Tides are different.
Some mechanics in Changing Tides are easier than they were in Lone Sails. In fact, I'd say that the operation of the ship is easier overall. Or at least more forgiving. Things don't break as much, or need to be babysat as much.
You are free to move around more, and the diving suit's booster even means you can go outside the ship and collect fuel items while it's moving. Something you really could not do in Lone Sails.
In exchange for that, operating the ship in Changing Tides is more complex. There's more to monitor, and more to manage. Which I think is why certain things needed to be made easier to help balance out the challenge. It's more about the journey, than the struggle anyway.
With Changing Tides being a longer game as well, I'd say between two and three (maybe closer to three) times as long depending on how chill you're taking it, they probably felt the need to make sure it wouldn't feel particularly frustrating to play through at any point. Lone Sails being shorter, and simpler, meant it had room to be less forgiving.
I like both games a lot, and I'm curious if they intend to do another one. I have faith they'll be able to come up with another interesting idea.