New Steam refund policy

You might find this interesting:

mobile.extremetech.com/latest/223336-steam-users-flood-to-take-advantage-of-new-refund-policy-leave-game-developers-in-the-lurch

It's still too soon to know if that "lurch" is genuinely an abuse of the system or just a short-term dip due to the new policy; with that said, it does need some fine tuning and a more rigorous effort to impose better stipulations for varying conditions. The current return policy (not just Steam) is a bit too narrow, and forgoes addressing any real issues with games that may have been purchased long ago, but never played - only to discover they are unplayable or just not worth the dime. And them as we are aware, there's the problem with Early Access games; it should be returnable up and to the full release - and any time played during the development phase should be considered "Play-testing" not actual "game time".

This is already the case. When filing for a refund you state a reason such as gameplay/technical reasons.

There's even a form you can fill in to provide additional details on why you want a refund, with the page stating Valve may share your reasons with the developers to help them improve things.

As the entire thing is very early days, guessing a lot of the feedback communications either aren't working fully yet or developers aren't looking in the right place for feedback instead just looking at volume numbers and glossing over any additional information that may be provided (assuming the person requesting the refund bothered to provide constructive feedback rather than just bitching)

Yep, but that's for Godus. Which for most people will not fall under the base criteria to make a general refund request.

But if the Refund is a valid case under the standard rules you get taken to the actual refund request page, where you pick the nature of why you wish a refund and the form to give a detailed explanation which can be shared with the developers.

The process feels very much automated, after sending a refund request for a game where you meet the under 2 hours/2 week criteria you're told that it has been forwarded to support for review, but with a turn around of a successful refund request on a game (not godus) of 3 hours on a Sunday, I definitely think it's just an automated process that double checks to make sure the purchase and other criteria checks out before automatically just green lighting the refund request with no human eyes ever really seeing it.

Though I do suspect that if you clock a certain number of refund requests within a certain interval then it will flag your account for review and a human set of eyes will then actually look into why you've been making so many requests and then decide on what action to take. It mentions on the Refund FAQ page if they decide you're abusing the refund policy they will remove your ability to request refunds for example. 

8 minutes in he explains the main reason why you don't want to hold onto dissatisfied customers, especially when the game you sold them is...not giving them fun.

Expecting customers to want to play a game more because of buyer's remorse "to get their money's worth" is usually Cliffski's trademarked ignorance...

Gamasutra article;
Steam Refunds are still shaking out

Steam Refund Experience: Majority Outside of 2-Week Window. Another fun one, and makes a ton of sense in my book.

"If you aren't happy with my game, I don't want to hear about it. The problem is you just haven't waited long enough. That's how development works I swear."
- PM

Longer version:

"The key to community driven development is understand that everyone playing the game is wrong and short sighted. You're always right. All the player should have to do is pay money for one concept then wait quietly and be accepting of whatever it is you decide to deliver even if it's not targeted at the people you initially purposely attracted. Any further input from your players is detrimental to development and simply causes problems.

This isn't misrepresentation or questionable ethically. It's how development works. No one can understand that but you, so shut out their voices. The only people who will resist are those that can't understand, so don't waste time on them." 
- PM

That is actually a good sign for customers, a bad sign for some developers as it shows VALVe who the problem children are, and why.

I wonder how 22cans' tune will change if VALVe has to step in specifically for Godus, since 22cans have been given plenty of opportunities to do anything to show that they can be arsed about their customers but instead have routinely been passing their own horrible customer service off as being Steam and Early Access' responsibility, not theirs.

Will the future be seen as 22cans doing something to right the wrongs, or instead be Big Bad Ol' Steam "keeping the developer down" or some such rubbish? 22cans has the opportunity to proactively try for a good effect...and just as much of an opportunity to do nothing and then look like they don't give a damn.

Keep in mind that all of those refund requests will likely include details of how Godus was sold upon Steam (including the fake "screenshots"), along with how the game turned from what it once was into a mobile port, so it would really look better for 22cans if they showed some initiative upon this on their own rather than have Peter crying about it later.

Good luck on your refund.