Endwalker's story had me, but lost me. Ethical issues especially (spoilers)

[Rulakir]

Therefore, I can't yet discount the idea that the reason Azem never joined Venat's gang was that they knew the plan for for them to sacrifice themselves to turn her into the counterbalance she already knew she needed to become to lead the legacy of the Ancients towards their only means of defeating the Sound... and in that case...what was Azem's role in ensuring the plan worked out?

I'll be frank, in an expansion so dedicated to making Hydaelyn likeable and excusing the sundering, having Azem play any role in opposing it would be inconvenient.* So, I'm not surprised it wasn't addressed. I do think given the divisiveness over Venat's character and actions the writers would be smart to not have Azem on #TeamHydaelyn. It's bad enough they made her their mentor. I feel like fans of hers got to live out the ideal scenario in EW, the rest of us are now having to deal with the prospect that there isn't any version of our WoL, past or present, that wasn't opposed to her morally questionable act and that is a problem.

* Edit: I suspect this is also why we got the unfaithful retelling of events from Venat's POV as players probably would've had issue looking upon her favorably with an accurate portrayal.

As great as Azem and their reincarnations are, we should remember that there is a level of selfishness involved too. Ardbert did not care what it took to save the First. He did whatever Elidibus asked and was willing to kill the WoL to make it happen. Likewise, the WoL is repeatedly given dialog options to be against their friends making sacrifices even if that means not achieving their objective. It would be a difficult if not impossible sell that Azem would have given up on their world or its people, especially for an uncertain future.