So, this isn't to say QoL is bad and that the slow combat should be put up with, but I found some evidence that it does let you skip enemy turns:

Did 5 encounters like this with and without the hotkey. At 00:46 and 02:04 the maggots move before the bar is fully charged.

And here I always get to act first, effectively skipping their turns. I don't believe this is just luck. Waiting for the full charge is how I've played for most of the later stages of the game, and although enemies do occasionally interrupt me, I get to act first for the overwhelming majority of the time.

Maybe the mod can be improved, maybe not, but I thought I'd share this finding since it was claimed the mod doesn't affect balance.

Might be something to it, for sure! Try using the console command for enemy HP/turn order. That'll give you a way better idea for what the enemy turn order is.

"There are a couple of cheat codes in Septerra Core. To enable them, press F12 and type the following into the command window: IMAREALWEENIE then hit ENTER.

The following cheats are now enabled. You can type them in the same way as the enable code. Just hit F12, type the code, then hit ENTER.

ENEMIES - Shows enemies' HP."

Here you go. Looks like it counts as an AI manip, as they don't act when they normally would, but the bars charge normally for everyone, so that's a non-issue. Might have something to do with the way I hold down the F key, "react" when the UI pops up and let go. I think I'm at my limit when it comes to testing this, though.

With hotkey

Without