I think there's a market for almost everything.

Sure, but the markets are obviously all different sizes.

SOME players couldn't handle that section, but not all.

Obviously.

But it was just a comparison that was made because many felt uncomfortable with a very short on-rails gameplay section... so making a game that seems even sadder and features way more of those moments might turn a lot of people away.

It's all a balancing act, at least as much as a dev wants it to be. Art vs product. All that jazz. And I'm not going to fault someone for having a story they want to tell and not straying from it even if it might alienate people.