At first shoudn't TFP even consider so option to make deal with another company to make another 7dtd game when even first game is not finish.
7DTD was release in this same time as Minecraft. What is a diffrent ? Minecraft get full version while 7dtd don't.
Is it better - yes and... no. If you compare 2018 and new build - yeah. But you can do this with almost every game ( except games like cod warzone when another update make game worst). So it's not reason is to be happy.
If 7dtd was set be finished let's say during 2018
1. We would have bandits, learning by doing etc. in stable form. Yeah there would be chance for bigger overhaul ( COH2, Mount and blade with fire and sword) but low chances. So if you bought this game then you could expect it will be as you like not another update which will change things you like into things you don't ( for example weapons models)
2. If 7DTD was already finished - we would have much more big mods. Now it's a little bit pointless because well - another update will broke such mod so not worthy
3. it's above 10 years - so many modders just don't care about 7dtd anymore because... how long will take until release and mod production time? check how long was made black mesa or some big skyrim mods.
@Riamus - people are not immortal and can't wait forever. 10 years is +- 1/5 of human lifespan.
3. Okay so let's say devs are not bored with voxel games - then they would finish their next game during this or next game. Then probably we would get 7dtd 2 - probably on new much more powerful engine. Imagine 7dtd but with 120 RG zombies in this same time. Would be cool right?
4. Years ago this game was hyped - so if it was full release you could expect that will be stuff like with Minecraft or Fnaf. Would be nice to have like... 7DTD Poit brick set like Cod had :
Amazon.com: Mega Bloks Call of Duty Zombies TranZit Diner Building Set : Toys & Games
5. Probably 7dtd 2 would have much diffrent vibe that 7dtd 1. Why? because this is totaly normal things i will give few examples:
Age of empire 1 and 2 - realism but pretty "knight toys" because of technological limits. Age of empire 3 realism. Age of empire 4 cartoonish
Jax and dexter - cartoonish then realism.
cod - autentism into "light tone" like fortnite
So 7dtd 2 would be diffrent - maybe more like the last of us or days gone. Or would be cartoonish like fortnite. Who knows yet... already we would know. Because there won't be 7DTD 2 for sure. Reason is simple - Devs are humans not "eternal" company like Activision which will be release cod when people who played in cod 1 during release will be gone. So - i no chances that devs will be making 7dtd 2 in 2040
So as you see - there is many reasons why there is no reason to be happy about it