Hi pi-err, you make really good points.

Also, if every team member could assign tasks, send requests and questions using this syntax, would that change your perception of this being a top-down management tool? Because our intention is to build a tool that allows a more horizontal communication among team members - but that's more difficult to visualize in a single video.

We are also aware of the cultural-contextual association of colours. This is one thing we are actually struggling with. While colors are a very easy and effective way to communicate status of tasks, especially to give a quick overview of many tasks - they have severe limitations, just like you say, red evoking associations with something as being "bad".