Most people didn’t want to find out what kind of world Sam was from (follow him into the SPN universe) most of them wanted to follow Dean into it. It was the same background (as they were brothers) but a very different focus. It was supposed to be Sam, but Dean was the one who made it feel real. He was a 3D character from the start.

He wasn’t raised to have such a rough life, to be a hunter, he had four years of normal life, with people taking care of him, loving him, he had his childhood stolen from him, his innocence stolen from him, but that lil kid was always alive in his heart, he craved affection, love, to be loved back, because he remembers when he was a kid and he had that…

Dean spent his whole life thinking his own life didn’t matter, he had to put everyone’s needs first, because that is what is father demanded from him, he was never allowed to follow his dreams, he never had a chance to break free and enjoy his life to the fullest… 

Dean Winchester spent the last year of his life fighting for freedom, fighting to save the world, and once he got his so desired free will, his freedom was taken away from him in the most brutal way, he spent his last minutes having the confirmation that what he thought his whole life, was right, all that was left for him in the end was death, he spent his last minutes believing his life didn’t matter, showing how he always felt less than his brother, he died crying, sad, scared, losing everything he was working for, he got a dog, a job, he was ready to move on and see what else life had to offer… and he died, without getting the chance to enjoy his freedom, without having the chance to love himself, be proud of himself, without being able to see that he was more than just a hunter,  he died without finding peace and happiness while he was still alive, his life ended in the same way his story started, in tragedy.

I hoped that Dean would be allowed to become more than a blunt instrument/support system/punching bag that follows (mostly) Sam around even when it's bad for him because it's the only thing he knows, and so it's the only thing he (thinks he) wants.

Instead, Dean's last words are about how all that ever mattered to him was Sam and how he doesn't know what he would have done if Sam turned him down. He doesn't mention any dreams or hopes he might have had for himself now that he's free of Chuck's meddling, no ambitions...

And in Heaven, where he's now supposedly able to do/have whatever he wants, he just drives around and waits for Sam. Again, no sign that Dean has any life/dreams/activities that don't revolve around Sam.