I think you're at odds about what you expect/want HAM to be with the developers. Their changes to date suggest they're making it what i'd like it to be, also: a slick and straightforward way to get official user apps and content, and support for add-on packages to those in separate functionality. I don't want it to be a general purpose GUI wrapper for apt, and don't think that is a good use of resources, either. The source code is there, though, if you feel differently.

Consider participating in the various brainstorms on the subject.
Handling extra, add-on packages
CLI programs in HAM