You should be able to just click on the the downloaded file and it will install.  Note that Windows flags it as a possible unsafe file.  It doesn't appear to be but it apparently isn't in Windows' database.

When you download Ingrid crossword software on a machine, what app do you use to open the file?  Thank you.

Can anybody think of a published NYT puzzle that has deliberately misspelled words in the theme answers? And those misspellings would, of course, make sense in relation to the clues.

I've never received the "open-ended wordplay" feedback either.  That's a new one.  My best guess is that whatever wordplay was used in the theme was not consistent enough in type for them between clues.  For example, if one entry used a perfect homophone pun and another one used a vowel substitution to achieve the pun the technique might be described as "open-ended."

Just a guess.

Thanks Glenn!