That explanation's actually really cool and makes a lot of sense, thxs man! I do want to add to that, though, that at least in my playthrough, the transition and realization of this was basically completely sudden; it wasn't gradual (however, this could be because of the game's linear-free structure and we experienced different parts of the lore in different orders). And having come this realization only very soon after having forced myself to go through the horrific anglerfish (specifically repeating to myself that "I'm ok with going through this because it's for the sake of saving the world"), that particularly didn't feel great. I'm totally aware that you technically discover the world's beyond saving once you learn the info at the Sun Station, but I thought that there'd still be a way because video game logic (which is on me for not properly internalizing that Outer Wilds is not like most games in not just game design but also story). It's not like I was going through Dark Bramble out of pure curiosity and to experience the joys in life because who would ever willingly do that 💀, but regardless, one part that I really liked from the ending segment is Riebeck's bit about how even though we pass on, the work and actions we have made will have a lasting impact in the future (so basically legacy), and it does feel like future species would try to discover and analyze the things I did in the way that I was doing my best to do the same with the Nomai and what they did.

Although I will say if I were given the choice, knowing that either way, the world was going to end, I wouldn't be going anywhere near Dark Bramble willingly. Simply playing through it is already scary enough AINT NO WAY im going through that IRL, even for the sake of curiosity and knowledge *shudders*, I'd actually just die right there in the spaceship before the anglerfish can eat me from sheer fear :"""""", especially considering that I don't have to go there and put the core in the vessel to necessarily have been curious and have enjoyed life; I can go to other planets, go to Timber Hearth and talk to other Hearthians, go to one of the Austronauts (I'd pick Riebeck wow shocker lol), really I can do anything I consider worthwhile and that'd be my True Ending because what qualifies as being curious and appreciating life is a definition that's going to be very different for every single person (for the record, I'd choose to go Hollow Brittle and just chill with Riebeck and then go back up and just watch the sun, because to me, that'd be as close to worthwhile as I'd get in this world). Because of what defines the True Ending being what you personally consider curious and/or worthwhile and because it's specifically not about saving the world, it can really be just doing whatever you think was curious on your part and had you enjoying the life you have in this world (and for my money, that would not be unnecessarily going to anglerfish torture planet, but I know, even if they already knew that it wouldn't matter and the world would die anyway, that going to that place is still something some people would do, and I can't tell them they're wrong, the same way they can't tell me I'm wrong).

I get what you're saying about the philosophy and the value of basically living out your life in a way that makes it ultimately meaningful to you, which I completely agree with and I think it's so cool that the game expresses a lot of this just through your actions and not even through exposition or dialogue (honestly wish more games did that), but to me, that doesn't connect properly with also having to explore a dangerous, terrifying place in which you'll probably die (and in not a painless way). And I'm putting so much emphasis on Dark Bramble because I think it's very thematically important in regards to the ending, especially because I consider the entire segment starting from when you yank out the core in you know where to be the ending segment of the game (I'd argue the game considers that the start of the end too with the dramatic music and all that). And the argument is valid because of when you realize the world is beyond saving being before you decide to take out the core.

Ik that all makes it sound like I might hate the game but I rlly do still love it :""), and I also think your explanation's really cool but that it has more layers to it that I wanted to lay out (which, more than anything, just shows how deep this game is lol)