The way I read it, producing a small group like RK was Ritsuko's dream? Correct me if I'm wrong, but she always wanted to produce a few girls, not all of them.
I do agree with the series needing broader forms of drama than "*messes up and doubts self* i am quit idol

". Episode 13 and
Minami's collapse felt very natural and not forced to me, especially since it was foreshadowed but also surprising. I hope the drama in the second season is more the latter than the former.
Wake Up Girls did a TON of things wrong, but it had drama like corrupt entertainment bigwigs and gross fans, monetary issues, family problems, injuries, and scandals/trolls and hateblogs on the Internet, so it wasn't picking from the same pool over and over again.
the problem is when you cram all of that into a 13 episode anime.......