About those "anime tropes", that argument is moot because if someone doesn't like anime, won't be interested in the game in the first place so it won't matter if the game has those or not. And if someone likes some anime but not certain tropes, he won't find out until he tries the game itself (buying the game) or spoils himself reading reactions of other users that don't like them so he would be a bit conditioned (maybe those reactions are exaggerated i.e. one of those Xenoblade2 haters that won't pass one minimal thing in Xenoblade3 if it remembers remotely to it, even if not truly the same trope). Those kind of users, I think, won't buy a Xenoblade game regardless of the changes.You are jumping to conclusions. I never said anime designs can't be used, I said that if certain anime tropes are heavily emphasized it will likely limit the sales of the next entry. I don't personally care if the games remain the same or deviate- I like Xenoblade 2. But it's clear some of the conventions based on anime will turn off a lot of new users. Hell, even a turn based system arguably does for some. Or a battle system that has a complicated set of options. There are a variety of factors and I don't think it's sacrilege to suggest that there may be ways that may make a Xenoblade 3 better sell.
Anyway, about people that don't like things like turn based fights or complicated game systems, yeah it can reduce the sales potential, but as I stated in the past on the old site, MSI/Nintendo don't need to water down the experience for sales sake. There are plenty of games with simpler battle systems out there for those who prefers it. As a Xenoblade fan I want those elements to stay and evolve. If I want something different, I know where to look to find it.
If the sales stagnated at 2-3million for the series, that's a marvellous result for them after all previous efforts since Xenosaga/Baten Kaitos/Disaster and I doubt they won't be happy with it. I don't expect (or want) Xenoblade to become Pokemon or Dragon Quest TBH.