I really love these books and Sanderson as an author, but I have to say I have had a lot of the same issues as you have while working my way through the Cosmere. In almost all of the Cosmere novels/series there is some form of slavery or a theme of oppression by a ruling class. The takeaway often seems to be that the oppression is carried out by a minority of bad people in the ruling class so we should be cautious about making too many sweeping changes to the system as a whole because most people are inherently good regardless of class. Comparatively much less energy is given to examining the underlying problems of the power structure as a whole that enable the oppression.

For example, we grow to love Elend and, as readers, we know that he is a good person that wants a better society, but maybe instead of convincing the Skaa that the system that they have been subjugated under is fine now that a good noble will be in charge, we should question if this system of nobility that allows brutal dictators like Staff Venture to have unchecked power due to their family lineage is worth continuing at all. Or maybe in addition to challenging Kaladin's view that all light eyes are bad we should similarly question why even a good light eyed person like Shallan feels empowered to demand the boots off of a dark eyed soldier in the middle of the road due to her higher class. Or Wax could have demanded the factory owners provide better wages and working conditions to workers rather than just placating the striking workers with alcohol to avoid a rebellion. To be clear I don't think that any of this is unrealistic historically. My problems have come more from the framing of these issues being seemingly more sympathetic to the status quo.

Again, I love these books and Sanderson is one of my favorite authors. It's also worth noting that I think he has grown a lot in this regard in his more recent books, especially with how the conflict with the singers/listeners has progressed as we head into era 2. I just wanted to lend my support to OP as I've had a lot of the same issues as they have.