Greeting @Subquake!
First I would just like to tell you how much I love your overhaul! I eagerly await its release with each new alpha. From the QoL improvements, to the detailed crafting system, this overhaul is in many ways what I feel 7DtD could have been. The features and improvements that are a huge draw for me are too many to list here, suffice it to say about the time I get tired of modding vanilla to suit my tastes, I always come running back to this tried and true favorite.
That being said, I have two questions :
1. Do you have plans to change the tool/weapons section of the research process? As it currently stands I can see no reason why anyone would EVER research a tool or weapon. This is due to the research recipe. All of which require the complete tool/weapon in order to research. If I already have the tool/weapon, why would I destroy it for research just to have expend more materials to make a new one? Perhaps revising these to use the tool/weapon from the previous tier plus materials from the tier you are researching, on top of the existing resource costs would help. Just a suggestion/concern. I feel like the current recipes don't do justice to the rich and detailed system you have created.
2. Is the inability to gather water from natural water sources a by product of your water gathering system? Or am I just overlooking something? I will admit the second option is a possibility, there is so much to relearn with this overhaul sometimes I overlook things.