I get where you're coming from OP, although I personally wouldn't go as far to to say they're disgusting, more gross/unsavoury but that's just my opinion.
I do like the idea of making candles and the auroras, and I did initially like the idea of juice making, until, as I'm slowly learning, a lot of harvestables create 'suspicious' juice or whatever it is - I don't want that, and I'm not prepared to pay even half price for a couple of small interesting features.
I've learnt today that turning off the eco thing in the options menu doesn't actually stop it, it just hides the UI - that's a dealbreaker for me.
I haven't even patched yet as I hear the patch has had a lot of breakig/negative effects.