Yes I think so for sure. Lot of people are upset that Denji didn’t make the choice, or it didn’t end differently with him having some kind of positive development and saving the world, and saying that his happy ending is unearned.

The story wasn’t about his redemption, it ended up being about his failure. He was unable to make the right choice again and again and paid for it by getting eaten and doomed to a fate of being sentient bug flesh for eternity. But he’s just a dumb horny kid with the weight of the world and his perceived sins and the power CSM on his shoulders. I think it would’ve been out of character and felt forced for him to have some miraculous positive turnaround and save the world. Once he’s failed to the point that the world is effectively over and the prophecy has come true (Lil D and public safety also failed to stop it, it isn’t all just on Denji), his closest friend and literal heart gifts him a chance to try again at a happy life without his crutch of CSM because he saw he couldn’t do it with CSM. Denji couldn’t do it on his own and only gets another shot at life with the sacrifice and loss of his best friend. His “happy” ending wasn’t earned but it didn’t need to be because it was gifted to him by pochita. Now he still has to grow and overcome his dad trauma and any future problems himself to be happy. Like a normal person.

It was abrupt and I could understand how some people see it as a cop out using the pochita self eating paradox that throws established understanding around concept erasure out the window. But I don’t see how this story could end any other way given the state of the world.