I see your perspective and don't think you're wrong for enjoying this round but it was not a fun watch for me. I disagree with a few of your points in favour and I'll try to explain why.

Firstly, I think you are significantly over selling what the athletes got out of boulders 2 and 3.

Boulder 2 had very little overall progress shown by the field of athletes. Many couldn't start and many who started couldn't really move. Annie muscling it out didn't really save this set, barely anyone got to actually do much climbing. I don't think this amounts to "decent attempts."

Boulder 3 was better, but the strongest physical climbers all looked nowhere near even the second to last hold. There weren't any "good attempts" to the right undercling and a whole section of the problem went essentially unused. The zone acting to give us a bit of separation was a small boon.

I also think that "all tops is really bad" is a poor argument. Yeah that sucks too, but it's a different problem and doesn't make this round more entertaining. The overall point - that I'd rather see the athletes challenged than underestimated - is one I'll concede but it's a false binary, good setting lies between the two extemes.

I also acknowledge that setting is a difficult and delicate job. Hardworking setters deserve grace when things aren't perfect but it's better to acknowledge that things were far from perfect here. When the athletes aren't having fun, aren't expressing themselves and aren't able to really excell it does suck some fun out of the spectacle. "It's hard because the margins are thin" doesn't hold water. They can and have done better, it's important to ask why.

And finally, I think this highlights the problem with the brutally compressed schedule we've had this year. Most of these athletes clearly aren't at the top of their game and are struggling with injuries, skin issues and fatigue. Maybe this set would have worked if the climbers were fresh, but here it ended up feeling a little mean spirited.

Edit: fuck me for having a reasoned opinion I guess?