I wouldn't say the writing is subpar, that would be unfair. I think the writing is convoluted due to the huge number of possible story permutations.
I am going to stop you right there. . ..
The writing team are given the task of trying to fudge a coherent story from this convoluted framework. This dictate comes from the creative director aka Swen. I am saying the bad writing isn't because the writers are "bad" necessarily (could well be) but the framework in which they are told to create a story is a ridiculously complex one. The writing is made bad (default) because the direction. Given a different framework to start from the writing team may have been able to create a coherent and interesting story.
It doesn't change the fact it is bad, I just don't think it's fair to blame the writers necessarily. I agree with your analysis.
