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

[Lauront]

This. I among many others I'm sure derive my enjoyment from how well everything comes together, as well as my own personal enjoyment of what's happening on screen. my biggest issue with Endwalker is that it didn't quite stick the landing on both fronts and heavily prioritizes the fun aspect of the game's narrative over the practicality of anything that's going on.

To give an example, Heavensward which is my personal favorite expansion has this moment towards the end where Hraesvelgr of his own volition hands us his eye in a historic turning point that calls back to the conclusion of whatever feud the Dravanians and Ishgardians initially had ages ago. Both this conflict and the dragonsong war are ended with Hraesvelgr joining hands with another mortal becoming living symbols of unity between the land and the heavens. the scene also makes sense practically because it's already been long established that dragon eyes are vessels to a near infinite reserve of aether, and azure dragoons are empowered by use of this power. this whole segment is both fun to watch, and it doesn't make you question the logistics of what's going on.

Compare all of that with a scene towards the end of Endwalker where you summon Emet and Hythlodeus to summon a bed of flowers, Meteion gets sad, and Emet says "These Elpis blooms serve as proof that this realm is not utterly devoid of hope. No more can you deny its power. No more is yours the dominion of despair," then suddenly we can just bring everyone back with no repercussions... but why? what's stopping her from just undoing everyone again? What is even going on? I know I'm supposed to feel happy/sad cuz the scene is clearly trying its hardest to illicit an emotion out of me here, but something about this explanation just isn't clicking with me.

Ultimately, I feel the story ventured too deep into fanservice territory this time around and allowed sentimentality to drive the story in place of logic. I mean, I won't lie, they did a damn fine job on that end. If all they wanted to do was give me an adrenaine rush during the last quarter of the final boss, or during the badass fight with Zenos at the edge of the universe etc., then they succeeded. I just wish I could say I loved the expansions story beyond what it had to offer on the surface level.

Well at least you enjoyed that part. I didn't mind the Zenos fight too much. Didn't love it either, but at least it fit his character, alongside all the cheesiness of it. Endsinger meanwhile? All that build up, then a bit over 1/3 of the fight with head flailing and it was over the top to the point that it simply came across as borderline comical to me. Her design and some of the mechanics were decent, and I liked the zone design of Ultima Thule a lot, but the trial wasn't much of a highlight to me. I'll agree that it was very cinematic, though.

One thing I did like was fighting Hydaelyn. If nothing else it was a little different than Venat turning into just another mana goddess rolling around in her panties.... although there was plenty of that.

Yeah, I felt both hers and hijacked Zodiark's were both good trials. Not the most demanding mechanically, but the design was good in both instances.