I think in the end we've accomplished about 1/4 of the original 2008 scope - and then scope-creep created a whole load of different unplanned content.
To be fair I have seen other mod teams that have also tried to multitask different mods for one game. I completely understand the decision to focus on one mod first to complete it and later refine it with extra content while working on another mod. It seems more time-effective than trying to divide the work on separate mods entirely.
It may sound like a sort of empty platitude people say, but it's really true; community engagement keeps us motivated. Even aside from the actual content of the feedback or suggestions or whatever, creating these mods is a ton of work, and knowing people care about it enough to actively join this community really does mean a lot to us.
I couldn't agree more with your sentiment. It is similar to how some artists take motivation from the critique of their work, as it lets the artist know what to improve on and shows that people look forward to their work in the future (which can be quite inspiring in a sense). One can say modding and creating art can coincide in many ways, as both can yield works of splendor that many will admire.