I'm surprised more people weren't turned off from the first game and true ending tedium. Second's definitely a better game, and deserves higher sales...but I can't blame people not wanting to try the franchise again after how the last 1/3 of Default played out.
I really hope that Octopath Traveler has a solid game flow, and isn't eight nearly identical stories that are needed to get the true ending.
Edit: Not trying to rag on either game. I had issues with Default, but I liked the gameplay enough to buy Second at launch. I just assume most people aren't me.

NNID: Zephyr25 / PSN: Zephyr--25 / Switch: SW-4450-3680-7334







