The release date of the expansion pack is approaching.

Make THE, completely rolling it back to SoD, leaving only the interface, and the rest will gradually be implemented on its own later.

I agree in essence. This is the most correct implementation policy.

I will also add my opinion (perhaps it will be useful):

1. All interface changes (for convenience) are unconditionally welcome; there is no matter for discussion.
2. The Bank, as something that fundamentally changes the development strategy—if you will, the game itself—should be removed. I'm not saying the bank is bad, I'm saying it's different. :)
3. Game experience—perhaps leave it (I emphasize: perhaps!). By intuitive feel of the game, experience fits very well into the balance; it doesn't change it, but rather makes it higher quality, so to speak, and makes the game more vivid while leaving the essence unchanged. I foresee many objections here, particularly from those for whom taking the Dragon Utopia on the second or third week is simply a set of routine movements brought to semi-automation. To this I will argue that it will be even more interesting when taking the Dragon Utopia is a more creative task every time, where another parameter—experience (alongside strength and quantity)—is added to the calculation. Indeed, isn't a pikeman who has gone through fire and water with you in the first days, when you were small and weak, dearer to you than some well-fed picker on the 3rd week who joined your army when everything was already ready? :)
   
4. When making changes to the essence of the game, try to maximize the factor of independence from a specific template (certain types of templates); keep in mind that templates are a derivative of the game, rather than vice versa.

P.S.
to Dreamcatcher - regarding this post:
Perhaps it would have been (would be) worth classifying changes by type more detailedly and introducing definitions, because imho SOMETIMES it turns out like: I am FOR (because the interface is more convenient), but I am AGAINST (because they changed the game itself, probably).

offtop (response to the remark above):

As I understand it, the ongoing "Favorites into Battle" championship is fan-made and unofficial, just a way to relax and play with your favorite castle. I'm cool with that.

+1. If you want—it's a game festival, a carnival of the soul—clearly with sporting excitement, but in moderation. But heating up the atmosphere, saying things like "you're losers if you don't win with Necromancers"—is not gut, again imho.