I understand the attraction to this, but it makes me think of a problem I haven't yet been able to define well, so I've been calling it the "Japan Tourist Problem" in my head while I chew on it.
Basically, it's pretty common knowledge for everyone thinking about being a tourist in Japan for a week or two that the JR pass exists and is an unbelievable value. Essentially, it's unlimited rides on the bullet train and Jr lines for a flat fee of ~200usd. Round trip is nearly the same price without the jr pass. It pays for itself.
Problem one, outside of the standard jr pass are about 5 or 6 "specialized" passes with very unique usage rules, like "only good for rides within Tokyo metropolitan area" or "only good for northeastern Japan rides" or "good for tourist bus only" I dunno it's impossible to keep track, but that's the idea.
And then when you actually get to Japan, you'll discover the full almighty power of the national Japanese tourism board. They got their fingers in everything. If you're ever about to spend money on something, there's probably some way you could save by exercising tourism board initiative 235.b:a, including a full on tax exemption. Little packages for bus + hotel + hot spring pass, with a vending machine voucher and an exclusive packet of stickers which have a QR code on the back you can redeem in the Line app. Endless. I'll try to find specific pamphlets and flyers when I get home but it's just so many packages, deals, all mandated from the tourism board itself (I'm not talking private hotel package type things here).
My point is that should this concept of the author's take off, we'll just be in some new decision-lock hell, where you'll never be getting"the best deal" because to do so would require solving the most insane graph reduction problem ever conceived.