Can we get choices that really matter and have a effect?

[Iscah]

I don't know why they bother having dialogue choices, I rather my character just nod as usual if they're just gona half heartedly implement dialogue options.

A lot of the time when we get dialogue prompts, I think it's not so much about "giving the player choices" as giving a direct speaking line to our character.

The ending of Shadowbringers, after the final battle, is a good example. We're given a few dialogue options but there's really one clear intended choice ("good to see you..."). Still, framing it as a prompt means that we see that line, and know that is exactly what our character is saying, instead of the usual approach of them simply mime-speaking and leaving us to guess what they said from the other character's response.

Well that right there is a real choice you just gave that could have real effect rather you choice to believe him or believe the lies all others characters have told you up to this point and let that lead you down a path of being a warrior of either darkness/light permently wouldn't have to even split storys just change the object based on what your character believes.

I think you're really underestimating how much impact such a choice would have on the overall story - you can't just swap out objectives that important without a fair bit of rewriting. It would also become quite complex to write a plot that allows both versions to play out simultaneously in terms of practical objectives while having such different motives and thoughts. (It's even more complicated when FFXIV is an ongoing story still being written, rather than a one-shot narrative where all the choices and story threads could be mapped out from start to finish.)

Describing the information we've received so far as "lies" is also severely misrepresenting things. Lying implies intent - that the liar knows the truth and is concealing it from you.

The Scions are not lying to us. They are working from what they believe to be the truth, and they are learning these revelations about Hydaelyn and Zodiark at the same time that we are.

Even then, it's important to keep in mind that we have not learned the objective truth, but what Emet-Selch believes to be the truth. It certainly seems to be closer to the real truth than our previous understanding - but however genuine his intentions are, he is not an impartial observer, and has a vested interest in portraying Zodiark in the best possible light and Hydaelyn in the worst.

More generally speaking, not every game has to give you "meaningful choices" and multiple story threads to be good. Sometimes telling one good enjoyable story is enough.