>>8456I notice that I find myself thinking back to VNs much more than any other BL medium
As you mentioned with the bad endings, the way VNs are free to explore different ideas and outcomes within the same premise allows for some really interesting writing, and I think it's also a great way for an author to spread out lore and arcs very neatly between different options/routes
Along with the point about how long they are, I have a feeling that the way VNs are finished stories at release can really strengthen them
Even if a VN is long enough to be a trilogy of novels, it doesn't matter! The main story MUST be complete before release, which firstly filters out writers that can't finish what they started, and secondly cuts out fan influence in plot progression
BLVNs remind me of indie movies, where the amount of resources and time and effort needed to make a passable product keeps out creators that aren't passionate, but are also niche enough where it allows for uncompromised visions since sales numbers aren't a focal point