Yeah it really does.
I just hope it works out with them trying to develop an "in house" system becuase that is what is clearly holding everything up, and despite what they said I am concerned they are going to try to use that to monetise everything.
If they just unlocked it all or made it available on the Steam Workshop like the first people will do the work for them, and then maybe make more sales of the game as it would then be far more attractive to play.
Time will tell, I feel they are playing a risky game, if they leave it too long people might just loose interest all together and the thing dies off before it ever really gets going.
I think that I touched on this before. But, even if they wish to no longer use the Steam workshop, covers those buying the game elsewhere and other platforms as to why not, they could have done what Tropico has done.....
Use Mod IO for mods cross platform support
Anno 1800 is supported well with that platform.
Like you, I do have some reservations as to why they wanted to control this inhouse, over that of using the site I have noted.
I really feel that mod support should have been there at launch, the longer it is the more fragmented it is becoming, with some mods already available, as well as being very disappointing.
In the past I used to regularly watch this channel, for both map and mod information....
...he doesn't seem overly impressed with what he is seeing so far, in terms of map creation.