the eating probably has to do with the fact that there hasn't been an actual day/night limit, just doing stuff and some one eventually saying "should he eat now?", or that status thing I had at the bottom of the inventory when it was small. actually saying hungry, tired, etc. I'd re-add that, it was simple and would be that irritating, but I doubt people will look all the way down at the bottom of the Big inventory just for a tiny Status. Or like Bread said, implied if we have interesting things to try instead.
Sleeping/Passing out on the other hand, is used either for the few timed events we've had, or for special occasions, and thus is usually written in.
While asking people might come off as a bit off to the peasants, we could search passively for minions, though we don't really need them since we can make computers now; we can make us automaton minions, or make Claw The Pirate-Bot able to walk and ZAP!
You walk though town, noting who your Sense Magic picks up, except the shopkeeper that you already knew was a mage. There are about 500 peasants here, you only noted 12.
(Random.org apparently thinks that 1720 was all the luck ya'll would get for a while, 1-500 and we get a 12...)
Lilli, a successor is actually a decent idea, but once we reach Legendary +5 Metamancer (Rank 20), we'll pretty much be able to duel Sarda and win, or just reverse time/space and ignore the fact we were dead last post. It'll take massive reserves of mana, but theres a reason Metamancy is the hardest to level up.
I think Bread means Beta is a test subject, and only that. we've got 12 or so squirrels left, we could resize one to pet size if we want one.