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

[Turtledeluxe]

The Pandaemonium raid is canon. The post-Elpis visit indeed happened. Additionally, I would note you're under a bit of a misapprehension regarding whether or not the WoL could affect change during their initial visit. They were told by Elidibus they'd be little more than a shade and thus unable to affect things, but Emet-Selch remedied this problem. They were granted substance and presence, and so they gained the ability to interact with the world of the past in a way Elidibus had no way of knowing would occur.

I know it happened. But it's not clear whether it was an exact replication of what happened originally or a deviant timeline. As far as Emet "remedying the problem" I don't buy that. I think the entire point of it is that no matter what happens, our actions in the Elpis wouldn't change the course of history ie stop the final days from occurring. Hence why despite what Emet did, it still happened.

As for Venat; she could simply have chosen to try and save her people. Instead, she took to heart the future she'd been told about and decided she'd aim for it instead.

She did try and she failed.