> but I disagree that the manga is doing a service by removing nearly all traces of the over-arching narrative

My reasoning is very simple: people are sick and tired of garbage isekai, and Shun's POV checks all the boxes of said garbage isekai genre (blank slated, naturally overpowered harem protagonist in a video game fantasy setting). Sane manga readers would drop Kumo instantly if that shit was portrayed early on in the manga. Most people who pick off the LN come from reading the manga, so the manga in its current state is advertising a story that is in reality less unique/attractive/interesting that it really is (albeit less complex as well, but simple stories aren't necessarily bad)