Forever Winter Update?

Played this game for a bit and always DID wonder why we were paying water to get to different locations..since we obviously had old well worn ways to get there. When the update came out and I read about the tunnels I was excited to get the new lore...

Until I played it. There is nothing fun about these tunnels at all, but if it was gonna be the method to unlock all the maps so be it.

Then... Wait, this is gonna reset so you have to explore them every time? Can someone explain THIS lore to me because it's nonsensical. Not to mention the SISYPHEAN task this is going to be for new players with literally nothing in their inventories.

FunDog, this ain't fun!