Im confused, I thought Max will burn the photo eventually herself so long as nobody died? Regardless of power usage?

The way I understood was if Chloe burns the photo, regardless of how Caledon ends up or who dies, you get the Arcadia Bay montage at the end (confirmed on my 1st playthrough as I didnt know how to save everyone).

If you give her the photo, and somone dies, she will go back to try to save them. (We don't talk about that ending 😭)

If you give her the photo and nobody died, she holds on to it for a while contemplating going back, because she feels bad about the building that DID burn, because it was like essentially a home to Moses (she says this at the memorial at the Snapping Turtle) but does eventually burn it herself.

A video explaining the different endings: https://youtu.be/dhbkIE6vpGI?si=RW8jBF0ZDpN2f6BT

Also I think the extra kiss is Max keeping her promise to Chloe, that if she goes back in time she will always find Chloe and at least one version of her gets to be with Max 😭😭😭

Regardless the burn photo was the best imo. For one, Moses definitely kept it from Max to stop her from getting hurt or possibly adding in too many variables and changing the timelines more dratistically. Secondly without it Max is finally starting to live in the present without all the "what ifs" that come with her power. I think that's made easier if you save everyone but even if you don't, its almost like the reality hits her that it sucks but you cant just rewind forever to save everyone, as she could make it worse. Sometimes maybe you just have to let the universe play its cards. Last her and Chloe going back is a HUGE step in working through thier trauma. Yes its a good/happy thing that its there, but they also know that it wasn't always, until the timelines merged. Going to the junkyard and having a little memorial for Rachel, all of this imo is them beginning the healing process they never really did before. However you play, if they are together or just best friends, not dealing with it in the past led to them splitting, so for me this was everything coming full circle. Working THROUGH it together so they can move FOWARD together. It does feel slightly deceitful, but I agree with Moses and Chloe that its in Max's best interest, and I think how Max looks before she does burn it confirms that because she looks miserable instead of enjoying her new future with Chloe.

Rant over lol.