This argument belongs to the in-game solutions threads of which there are many. They are considering having this in-game. Poll: World-economy-screen
But the in-game version would probably have all data available to it, live, so some of the arguments disappear with it. I think of this tool more like a trial to the in-game one.
edit: And the footfall argument is a bit weird, since it’s intended to give builders of infrastructure and other useful places a source of income. A shopkeeper already has a source of income: the products. Footfall is just extra they get as a side effect.