You are so right about yuta. Like I know it was explained at some point how he got Rika again (or something like her, I genuinely don't remember what the explanation was) but to me it completely undermines the ending of jjk0 and for what? What does it add to his character that he still has Rika around even if it's not really her or whatever, wasn't the whole point of his arc about letting go of Rika and moving forward on his own with his new friends. It's such a weird choice, and he's so annoying in the main series. It would have been somewhat poetic if he died like the other Special Grade sorcerers, to truly signal the end of the era where someone had to be the strongest and the start of a new era where people fight together and therefore there isn't a need for someone to be at the top. Idk, he just comes across as an author pet
that's exactly what i meant by main series yuta cheapening even his own character development <3
i was thrilled to have rika back at first, because she's simply a lovely character both in terms of writing and design, but after that thrill passed there's just nothing of interest or value here. i also incredibly despise that he takes away the focus that could've gone towards yuji, stealing his spotlight and even the confrontation with. u know. his mother. lol
a lot of people genuinely believe that sukuna is the favorite just because he faced gojo and won, like that wasn't the point...? he was supposed to be final villain, of course he'd be difficult to beat. he was a final obstacle. but yuta got all the focus with none of the interests and no one seems to bat an eye
his death would've been a way to wipe out the slate clean as you've mentioned, both in terms of special grades no longer existing as well as a logical conclusion after the zenin and kamo clan have both been wiped. why not the gojo clan too? killing yuta would've at least added some interest because the status quo would be shaken. there would be no more special grades, no more of the big three clan, and especially no more tengen. but no let's let him survive and continue the lineage of one of the clans for no clear reason. who cares