The Original Sam

I like the idea, but I think it might run counter to the goal of those first few chapters. The main issue people seem to be having is that without a more thorough and emotionally charged version of the backstory, to show connections and emotions, things end up being a little chilly and disconnected. The timeskips are really a minor issue compared to the fact that people aren't getting enough information -- I think withholding even more might just make people lose interest. It's something to play with, but I don't think the basic setup moments work if there's nothing driving behind them.