Thoughts after getting used to muscle strain

After getting used to the muscle strain mechanic I have found that I think it is a good addition to the game. It steers me away from slaying hundreds of zeds for entire days at a time; from power-leveling strength and fitness by exercising nonstop for days at a time; and from single-handedly deforesting all of Kentucky in one fell swoop. Even in combat I find myself forced to switch over to stomping once my arms get trained. It makes it less mindless.

Overall I find my playstyle has turned more holistic and varied, and as a result, more immersive. I currently am about two months into the game, and have built a little sustainable cabin by a pond after a very rough and dangerous first few weeks. This has been the most enjoyable playthrough I've had in the game so far because I have been playing more immersively and less exploitatively--mostly thanks to the muscle strain mechanic.