I understand that.
But again, the Witty Raccoon is a supplement to the Trader, not a replacement. You can't place the 'Coon instead of the Trader, the decision faced by the player is whether or not to place the 'Coon (or other buildings) in addition to the Trader. If you don't wish to operate with additional Seed buildings, you don't have to. But, if you do wish to operate with additional Seed buildings, unless I have missed another common or currently available special building, the Witty Raccoon, even unfed, is more than double the Seed production efficiency of the next best supplemental building, and thus should be a priority for. I would love for this, or any building, to have even better specs. I agree, it can't substitute for the Trader when that building is tasked otherwse; currently no building that I know of can. But it is still the best second-best building there is.
I currently have the luxury to be operating with multiple Tender Tag Teams, Autumn Ponds and Festival Merchants, and will happily put the 'Coon in instead of some of that after the FA.