Thank you to the scanlators for doing this massive job with the editors x Sorachi roundtable discussion. In some ways, I think I'm able to understand why Sorachi was the way he was and how the whole ending delay happened. My condolences to the editors, tho? Although it seems they were all able to get the final manuscript together at the end of the day, despite original plans were... lol, delayed.
But, also, wow at Sorachi for looking the reactions of fans (is it pretty common authors really do this? geez... I wouldn't have the heart to do it on purpose), because I do know for a fact (at least in the English netisphere) many people were pretty unhappy in how the whole thing unveiled (and I have seen lots of reactions/discourse about it... especially in regards to Takasugi). I don't think the finale would have been much different, though, and I think I share the feelings of otherwise happening being a bit lonely, as well. It's the kind of message that "even if this is the end, we will still be here", which fits pretty much on how the series was.
The Ginpachi ending fits pretty much well as an epilogue, lol, from the in-universe's POV.
Thank you, again, Hi Wa Mata Noboru, this was a nice treat (funnily enough, it's interesting that, even w/o the art book visuals, I knew at least 90% which color illustrations that the editors were talking about, lol? BUT GOSH, I want to own this thing...).