That says more about you than the manga tbh. "Hard to remember names"? Bad memory
"Hard to distinguish characters"? You just don't care enough to be bothered to remember who's who
"Abysmal relationship progress" it definitely got dragged a bgit , but if a dragged out ending is enough to discount everything else in the manga, that's just you. Again, it's a you issue.
Look at chapter 13 and the comment section. Many also have trouble distinguishing the characters.
It's the author's issue when they didn't bother to create memorable characters.
For example Bloom Into You.
I still remember vividly the story, the characters' designs and names even after years since the last time I read it.
Also look at chapter 28's comment section.
It's not the readers' issue when a lot are dissatisfied.
If a restaurant made you wait for a long time and served bad food, are you the issue?