I get the possibilities brought forth for a potentially different ending. As for the way they were not implemented, who knows. It is easy to sit and the cheap seats and arm chair quarterback decisions made for plot line of game development after the devs have put in a ton of work.
I for one however LOVE the storyline they have in place for Karlach. It is not the all the world will be great ending for sure. However at the end when Wyll and I let her know she will never be alone. When three close friends head forth, not to sit around in leisure bit to tackle another adventure together, that to me was almost a tear jerk ending. Then when she smiles and pulls out those cigars, I was laughing and crying all at the same time. That smile and attitude did me in and then we are off to deal with what comes next.
That to me was an amazing ending to her story and fitting for her, a chance to be a warrior on a noble mission of visiting a little payback on those that deserved it. Never alone, always with friends and loved ones.
The cigar moment to me was amazing, I enjoy weekly a night out with my best friend having a cigar and a glass of brandy. Those moments to real comradery are so rare in our world today so that scene did me in.
The devs have already done a phenomenal job. We wouldn't be here if they hadn't. I'm fully confident that they know how her story could've gone differently, especially after the recent slip-up by Dammon's voice actor.
I appreciate where you're coming from. The current story is an emotional rollercoaster. The Avernus ending is the better one out of the two at the pier. Not because she gets to live, but because she now faces her biggest fear -- the one thing she's been figuratively and literally running away from. But as you said, this time she's not alone. Her most traumatic experience down there was crippling loneliness. Now things are different.
But I want you to consider a player who's lost someone dear to them in real life, now faced with the same situation in-game. And they're powerless to stop it. There have been more than a few posters on here that relayed those feelings -- of hopelessness and emptiness -- and lamented the cruelty of it all. Those of us who believe Karlach is a woman worth saving should be allowed to at least give it an earnest try. Our feelings are valid, too.
