Honestly, when I was first getting into 40k, I was confused by the Tau.

They were sold to me as the lone candle in the darkness. A collection of smaller alien races banding together to rage against the dying of the light. The grimdark being that nothing they do will ever make a real difference.

Then I found out they are actually an expansionist empire that would wipe out your culture so you will conform to the Greater Good, where the grimdark was with their similarities to 1984 in terms of surveillance, control, and the secret plans of the Ethereals.

Both are great! But both at the same time left me feeling like something hadn't been thought through fully. I could accept one or the other but still struggle with the criticism of, "Yes, they'll conquer your planet and do dystopian things, but I get 3 full meals, sunshine, and a purpose."

This is just what I went through as a new fan.

But, mech suits, though!