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I'm working on a game, which I've got the general theme for and I like what it does, but I've recently concluded that it will likely become a more popular game (and so get played more often and by more people) if it is simpler to play.

The original concept involved tiles which have to be shuffled and placed all over the board, and then players have their pieces to move and their tokens to place and so on as they flip the tiles over and fight the things they find.

I've noticed that a lot of the more affordable and popular games around in this, the golden age of board games, are predominantly card-based games rather than literal board games. in some instances there is a board, but it works only to act as a backfrop for the cards. in most instances, there are only cards.

I've decided to rework my game into a card-only game, with a view to:
1: cutting costs - getting pieces, board tiles and the like are going to add to the cost of making the game (if I get that far) and so increase the cost of the game, making it less likely to become popular as less people will buy it.
2: Increasing compatibility - I plan to add expansions to my game after its initial release, and as such, adding packs of cards in will be simpler (or it seems so to me) than adding in extra models, rules to cover said models, and extra board tiles (which must have their own rules to serve any purpose than making the game larger). Cards can have self-contained rules, so there's less cross-referencing.
3: Keeping it simpler & quicker to play. I own a lot of board games, and I find space hulk in particular to be prohibitive by the amount of time needed to set the game up. Shuffle, deal and play is a much faster way to get into a game. No one has ever said "do you fancy a quick game of space hulk", whereas a quick game of exploding kittens is much more likely to happen!

The main reason I'm going through redesigning my game is that it doesn't really need the board to work - it's a nice visual element, but the mechanics of measuring distance, positioning pieces and the like was a slow way to go get to inevitably managing to direct all your forces at the target. It can be sped up a lot by offering a selection of target cards, and allowing the player to attack the one they choose. it also works better for the betrayal/alliance system I wanted to include.

Has anyone else designed a game and then decided it would work better as a different type of game? Does anyone have any preferences between board and card games?

I have no preference. Whatever is the best tool to get the gameplay you want.

AS far as switching genres, I was toying around with The matrix inspired RPG. However, after talking with some people it evolved into a Space Alert style board game instead.

Cards are pretty easy to produce too. There's a great little company called https://www.boardgamesmaker.com/ that can produce cards for a pretty affordable amount. They're so much cheaper than boards, punchboard tokens, and plastic playing pieces. Also easier to prototype if you have a pack of Bicycle poker cards, some M:TG card sleeves, and access to a printer.

Cards are definitely easier for a number of things, and for whatever reason they don't make people hesitant like dice do. People look at dice and feel like they have to think, whereas cards have the advantage of having the space on them to tell you what they do.

I'm a big card whore when it comes to games, but as it stands I only write tabletop wargames - but enjoy adding card decks. I've never tackled a full card-only game. I do think it's a far easier thing to produce from a logistics standpoint.

I have to admit, I am not a fan of the CCGing of wargames, I am looking at you War Machine and X-wing!

However, I also realize I am an old grognard and a luddite. Therefore my opinions on what people want to play are very skewed. I am pretty sure I have no idea what people want to play anymore.

CCG style is an entirely different kettle of fish - and one that is hotly debated.

It's kind of interesting how cards can mesh with, or conflict with, the action on the table.