The answer to my question in the title is that I want to like them, so I give them a chance. Alas, tastes don't change so easily. I already posted about not having enough fun with Food Chain Island some time ago, and the same thing happened with the new Button Shy, Ugly Gryphon Inn.
The PnP demo is in black and white and needs some corrections. The rules need to be edited too. Thankfully it's simple to understand, so I figured it out. I managed to win easily with 8 patrons staying at the Inn.
Don't get me wrong, there is no fault in these games. They both are clever puzzles. However, they don't contain enough 'game' for me to want to replay them (which doesn't mean they are not replayable. They are). Coincidentally, I posted my favourite small card games today, and they all have meat in their bones. They keep you engaged for more than 10 minutes, and they are not about spatial arrangement.
Button Shies are great if you want to solve a quick riddle, and the illustrations are very cute. If that is what you're looking for, you should definitely back the Kickstarter. I'm keeping my Food Chain Island PnP, but I'm quietly leaving the Ugly Gryphon Inn.
Yes, I remember your previous post about Food Chain Island and it immediately came up in mind when you announced the release of that one on the Sifting KS thread on BGG.
I do wonder, however, whether you don't like microgames per se, or those by Scott Almes? Have you tried other solo titles from Button Shy like Ragemore (I am mildly interested by this one), The Maid in the Forest (I have it but it's not appealing enough for me to really engage in playing it), or even Sprawlopolis (which is popular for a reason)?
Yes, both Sprawl and Ragemore, not Maid. Ragemore is a fine game but it didn't grab me that much. Sprawlopolis is an outstanding design but I personally hate it. I just don't have any fun at all with it, it feels like doing homework.
With all these games it's a case of 'it's not you, it's me'. Sometimes I'm eager to try something even though I suspect I won't like it, just in case I'm wrong. Finished! was a surprise, for example, but it's not a microgame anyway.