you make it sound like it's a definite thing that the story is sub par
That's because it is. There is a very large difference between "like" and "good", most people don't understand that. Quality (a.k.a. good) is objective, while "like" (or enjoyment value) is subjective. Citrus' story is bad, that's a fact. But that does not mean people can't like it.
I know how to judge a story based on it's merits alone, and Citrus does not hold up. You are also confusing "slow development" with "bad development". Citrus so far has been like a strong of one shots with characters that look and act similar. No conflict or event lasts more than a chapter, and said event or conflict is always brought up at the end of the previous chapter. e.g. Mei's dad shows up at the end of the last chapters and is gone by the end of this one.