Oh, and yeah, IMO they really need to figure out a use for shards once you've got every girl to stage 3 for that type. I'm there for fire already, and approaching it for a couple of the others. And, of course, nowhere near for fantasy. (Hearts could also use something, for what it's worth. Free players can't buy anything with hearts now, and the 10 per 7 day gold boost that payers can won't use up many of 'em once everything else is purchased.)

I'd argue some sort of exchange:
Something like 2 shards of X for 1 shard of Y
10 shards for 1 heart
10 hearts for 1 amrita

(I *think* even with that exchange rate getting to 1000 would be a better way of getting Amrita than running to 500 and resetting, but that would at least give you something to do with your extra currency.)