I think it really works well -- it's like doing 4 5x5 minis in a row, which I find makes for a pleasant solving experience. Like with most minis, I generally want them (and this) to play easy. As a format, I wonder if one of the "rules" should be that there's a connection between the entries of top and bottom steps?
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I’ve thought about trying to make one such that the top and bottom are the same, effectively making the grid circle on itself. Certainly theming it so that the start and finish are related has its appeal. I’ll definitely try that for the next one.