brilliant write-up and i don't disagree with a word.

works like ASOIAF which portray honor as something only braindead idiots have to hold them back & get them killed are another poisonous psyop to encourage atomization

yeah. Ghost of Tsushima had to force you into a stealth-only "dishonorable" section where you poison invading mongols instead of fighting them head-on, because had they let you be honorable the entire game the whole plot of "honor holds you back" would've fallen apart... because you can be a complete badass and slice every mongol up without a lick of stealth or dishonor if you want...