[brightman]

Shinn wouldn't have been a better character no matter how he turned out:

Spoiler:

Before Destiny's release:
Masses: OMG! He's Kira & Athrun's love child!
OMG! Why the heck is the main character not Kira, this new guy sucks!
OMG! His Gundam is crappier than Freedom! He sucks!

After Episode 1:
Masses: OMG! Why is Kira in ZAFT again?? Oh wait, that's not Kira? Then he sucks!

After Episode 3:
Masses: OMG! This new main character hasn't kill a single person yet! He can't go SEED! He sucks! Kira was a way better pilot than him!

After Episode 4:
Masses: OMG! This guy isn't anything like Kira at all because he yelled at Cagalli! He sucks!

After Episode 12:
Masses: OMG! This guy kills so heartlessly! He's nothing like Kira! He sucks!

After Episode 16:
Masses: OMG! This guy never stops whining! He sucks!

After Episode 28:
Masses: OMG! Shinn is the bad guy! Kira's the good guy! He sucks!

After Episode 35:
Masses: OMG! Shinn cheats because he uses his mobile suit too well and beats Kira! He sucks!


By that point, Morosawa probably said F*** it and just made a joke out of what's left of Shinn's character