This isn't a platform to speak on how it's in any means justified that it's hard to craft a decorative item or structure.
I don't really want to hear about your personal stockpile of a "chestful of shells" because my scale is simply larger than yours.
I don't like gatekeeping towards decoration. Don't get me started on skins for structures either. I won't go about it in depth, but the skin which looks like a pumpkin for the wardrobe with the convoluted method of obtaining it outside of a dollar value is a little gross to me, but I want to focus on shells.
This isn't something I've moved on from. I think there is definitely room in whatever the anticipated "BIG UPDATE!!!!!" is.
An increase to the drop rates or at least add a craft which lets us duplicate dozens of shells in a single deconstruction staff cast.
Lately, there have been nothing but missed opportunities at every turn with the updates we've had, one being a method of creating ice floes, which for no good reason, a small and insignificant few decided to veto on absolutely no authority because of a personal issue rather than a legitimate logistical one.
But I ramble, I don't forget about the requests I make and this one is at centerstage right now.
There really should be a way to farm up a lot of shells in a small amount of time. If I'm able to get a sea of gold in the first autumn, ruins rushing be damned, there are millions of way to skin that cat, at some point in the game, we should be able to farm up worthless, insignificant and feeble shells. Lock it behind Wurt for all I care.
You want pay to win decor, you got it. Put a dollar value on it. I'm sucker enough to pay for it anyway.