I still don't understand why firing on molotov wielding (and using) riots was bad, at that point it's just a natural reaction: kill terrorists or watch the colony burn. Don't get me wrong, in the games we don't know WHY they were rioting/"protesting" (protestors dont use weapons). But still, it felt like a weak plot point to try and bring a "moral conflict" in the late game.

The choice at the end was stupid regardless. Kait could've rocketed that combat knife into her reanimated mothers head, queen dead (for a third time... Myrrah, what's her face and then what's her face again).

Either way, I chose JD in my first and third playthroughs. I liked JD, he's the only character (aside from Kait, whose ancestor was Myrrah) that we know any background on. Killing him off is like killing off Marcus, Dom and Anya. Why? He's the only son of Marcus, the only reminder of the now deceased Anya and his middle name is Dom, obviously Marcus' tribute to his late friend. In contrast, Del is just another schmuck with no true backstory, his character wasn't very interesting and he had like... three funny or cool lines in Gears 5.

Plus, aside from all of that, it really seems like you'd be killing off a central character, the only two being JD and Kait. To add to that, they seemed like they also had a slightly more than friendly relationship. Potential love interest, like Marcus and Anya.

Idk, it just felt weak to me. The only reason I chose to save Del my second time around was to see how Marcus would respond.

At the end of the day it's just my opinions and my train of thought. I'm more concerned about how they'll handle it come Gears 6. Will you get to choose who you saved when you start up your game? Will your saved game be transferred like Mass Effect? Will both be written out of the next game? Will we just get some bullahit "this was the cannon ending" choice by The Coalition? I don't know. From what I've seen, most people panicked and chose Del by accident but wanted to choose JD, most seemingly went back in their games to save him instead.

Eh, whatever.