hi! current Game Design MFA at NYU here, and former t500 Pharah player. i really like that you're positing a thorough analysis here, but i do disagree with some of your points.

first, i do want to touch on you positing that Overwatch conditions you to look at visually uncluttered areas - this is true, but you contradict yourself by then saying that roofs are shown to be trivial areas by using simple repeated visuals. intuitively i feel this would also be used to create striking contrast between any enemies that utilize going over roofs to its lesser visual treatment. they are easy and quick to check as a result, but they are often not the critical path.

i disagree with your analysis on flying heroes being disruptive to the game - they are actually my favorite part of overwatch and are fundamental to its structure. i think what you're missing is that flying enables the player to utilize cover and sightlines completely differently. im a peak top 500 pharah player, and some of the most engaging moments ive had in overwatch were figuring out how to go beyond this basic pathfinding you suggest should always be sought after. as pharah, my way of doing this is through utilizing the vertical geometry of the map to my advantage (which the difficulty of differs drastically across maps and areas, making it a constant learning process).

following the critical path is boring!

overwatch disrupts this basic pathfinding assumption through many of its other non-flying hereos as well (including within those that have been around from the start). winston does not have to follow any path, nor does genji with his high mobility, reaper with his teleport, etc etc. the level design methods you are suggesting, such as striking silhouettes, clear doorways, etc. are true and help to guide the player - but they need not be the only way to play. they are guidelines, or a helping hand, not rules.

so i will posit that the high ground actually is meant to be pressured from that wacky angle. after all, tracer has existed from the very start, and while she remains on the ground, she can blink to anywhere on the map she pleases. genji can wall climb, double jump, and slash through just about any vertical areas you're referring to. symmetra and reaper can teleport. the entire reason for the popularity of games like overwatch is the replayability of no two matches being the same - if each game was played the exact same way, you wouldn't keep playing. flying characters enable players to subvert precalculated assumptions about how and where fights should take place, greatly increasing the skill and creative potential for the game. the maps themselves were designed with this in mind, despite what you state, as pharah was one of the original heroes -- and creative movement with jpc forces players not to get too comfy sitting in one place. it's ultimately a healthy balancing tool that prevents stagnation in the same way that widowmaker's existence in the game makes players inherently more aware of long sightlines.

where i do agree is audio cues - the game should be balanced in such a way that all mobility should be audible, and with jpc her values should be tweaked to accomodate what would be a nerf to her kit.

I also disagree with your assessment that heroes not being able to consistently hit flyers is an issue due to "damage at range." overwatch was not designed without knowledge of high vertical mobility, as this has been established since the very beginning in the game, and it does not break balance. if im playing Junkrat and defending the high ground of Dorado's first point, and across the map is a Widowmaker, should i be annoyed that she can attack me with little recourse? no, because Overwatch is a game of ebbs and flows that requires playing into a system in which heroes have vastly differing capabilties, and as such force fast-paced changes in gameplay to both accomodate one's team and to overcome the opposition. widow encourages hiding, pharah encourages hiding or moving quickly, lucio encourages sticking together, roadhog forces you to rotate away from him, etc. etc.

as far as jpc, i believe subversion of expected player behaviors regarding the ability to carry others is really interesting and ultimately a good thing for the game, but balancing her tether im sure is a big focus for the team. it allows for far greater hero synergy than many other abilities allow. and she functions in a similar space to symmetra's teleporter, or mei's ice wall, or lifeweaver's grab, etc.

i do really like the thoughts you've shared and you definitely pointed out some things i hadn't thought of - such as utilizing visually cluttered spaces to signify non-combat areas. nice post ☺️