What's the point with that quite lackluster story in Endwalker?

[Rulakir]

Regarding Venat's characterization, I'm sure she was always meant to be a heroine figure, at least from the moment her name was chosen. She's named after the Venat from XII that opposes the rest of her race that's trying to manipulate mankind to sinister ends. Granted, while that Venat does have good intentions and wants mankind to live free, they're more of an anti-villain than a full on hero.

Venat in FFXII was a villain as well in my eyes. Now that I think about it, I suppose they weren't all that different. Both had a misguided ideology they felt would benefit mankind more than the status quo and were Hell bent on seeing it done regardless of the amount of bloodshed it caused.

That actually started earlier in 5.0 after Hades fight, where you're greeted by Alphinaud with a smiling face saying "Emet-Selch is no more!"

I hated that as well. Meanwhile, after the Hydaelyn trial we get Alisaie saying, "No! This can't be happening!" and I'm like "Ding dong, the witch is dead." :P

I read in Japan it's made more clear that Emet is a hero, supposedly the lyrics of the song are "one hero brings shadow, one hero brings light". I think player viewpoints depend a lot on who they sympathized with and I found the Ancients more sympathetic than the sundered, particularly the Scions who are all rather privileged. Ultima Thule fell flat for me not because of the fake out deaths, but because except for G'raha and Estinien none of them had experienced despair on a relatable level for me. The Ancients were (and still are) the original victims, who endured an apocalypse, survived it, only to be split apart and forever live as shadows of their former selves.

[Kyohei]

I second this, agree with all. Y'shtola who usually brings a more critical view on every situation really was lacking in Endwalker. No critical point on Venat despite there being lots, and she just brushed away the solid point Eas were making. The response of the Eas were valid too, she really can't view the universe like them and put her in their shoes as she isn't immortal. I would argue that Thancred at least kind of experienced despair too on a certain degree, he used to live as a thief to be able to eat before being taken in by Louisoix and he lost a daughter. Of course it's nowhere near struggling to save a world for a 100 years like G'Raha or experiencing the suffering of Nidhogg like Estinien though.
Also I didn't know there were slightly different lyrics for the Japanese version, any idea how to access it?