Hi all, I'm new here but I've been keeping up with this conversation for a while and finally wanted to share my thoughts.

I definitely agree with most of you and your sentiments about the changes that happened after the Valentine's kiss patch. It kind of felt like a slap to the face. It hurt. I thought maybe Larian caved to pressure from the loud minority (those who are are vocally anti-AA) or maybe someone on the team wanted to take it in this extreme direction, but I felt like those of us who love AA were being shamed. There are many of us, and we love him for all kinds of different reasons -- not just because everyone wants him to be sexy or dominant or whatever. It just feels disrespectful and thoughtless of them to do this to the fans, those of us who loved him and this romance. Those kisses were a change that affected the romance in a huge way.

I've sent a couple of emails to Larian explaining why I feel some changes should be made to the AA kisses (mainly our Tav/Durge's horrified/scared/upset facial expressions) and how triggering it was for many of us fans. I also asked if they could add the "regular" kiss back into the rotation along with the 3 new kisses, so that it's not always just those 3 abusive ones. But it's been a long time since then and I never got any response from Larian. I understand that they're overwhelmed with messages and can't answer them all but I can't help but feel a bit sad about it. They have remained very quiet about this issue as far as I know, and there hasn't been an update to the game in a long while.

Another thing I'd love to see is an epilogue kiss / the option to kiss Ascended Astarion during the epilogue. As far as I know, most of the other romantic partners can be kissed (?) but he can't. That is something I requested be added, though it's not as dire as the changes to the kisses. I also think the Netherbrain kiss (at the Morphic Pool) should be changed to something new... Right now, it's just one of the 3 kisses, the one where he bites you.

On a more positive note... I did want to say that I was very pleasantly surprised to see the new ending animation
(where Ascended Astarion lies in bed next to your character, and then offers his hand to you before you walk off together hand-in-hand).

I got emotional seeing that, because to me, this was proof that he IS still the same person he always was, and he does love our Tav/Durge very deeply still. It's a full circle moment that goes back to the confession scene in Act II, where he held out his hand / held your hand in that same way.
I will say that part was really beautiful and I was over the moon that they added this in. During my first playthrough, that scene wasn't there yet. But my second playthrough was as Dark Urge (chef's kiss Astarion romance with Durge) and that ending scene was there! So I am very thankful that this was at least added in. I may have cried some tears of joy seeing that. :')