The main improvement would probably be to not rush the build-up to a new expansion in the second half of the final patch. Somehow and some way it may have been better to try and make one or two of the trials into a dungeon boss so that we could face Zeromus earlier, then spend more of the patches building up to the situation in the New World like we have every other expansion.

Issue 1: Backing a political candidate that we know nothing about
Easy to withdraw our support if we find they are a problem. The point of backing them is to prevent a rival winning who plans to conquer Eorzea the same way the Garleans did with Gyr Abania, Castrum Meridianum and Doma.

nothing about the 3 other contenders for the throne
We know one of them plans to wage war with us. We know one of them involves a bird called Valigarmanda.

Issue 2: Forced to agree?
Well obviously, or the expansion wouldn't happen.

Which was disheartening, because after going through so much together, it felt like these two were supposed to be our friends. And that's not how you treat friends.
I agree. It's also crazy that after going through so much, Thancred thinks he can win against the Warrior of Light in the contest. SE must be well aware of this, so they will most likely explain it to us in Dawntrail, because it obviously doesn't seem logical right now.

Especially considering recent events in the previous expansion. One of my favorite parts of Endwalker was the heart-to-heart that we had with Urianger on the moon, where he reflects with regret on his history of subterfuge.

And now here he is, choosing to keep new secrets from the friend he had that conversation with, instead of being open about it.
I was thinking that too. I don't really care that much that he continues subterfuge, but y'know, to still do it again after being caught is amazing.

It's silly that nobody knows anything about Tural
Well they do know things about Tural. The Great Gubal Library had a book about the city of gold. The library in Old Sharlayan had books about it that we looked at in the MSQ.

Especially when you've got folks like Erinville going to and from there.
Wasn't it implied he was from there as well because of how long he's known Wuk Lamat?