When it's put that way I can kinda get what you're saying.
I suppose they could've overused the hours, milked them, but it didn't look like that to me.
It looked like a polished attempt, something that would definitely live up to if not surpass MGRR and DMC. Which were both good IMO.
I'll also add that they already invested some of the money
The game was near due to release
To end it all was to save how much REALLY?