What If...?

[Le Messor]

oh and on an earlier point, Mac has only technically died once and that was in the Collective fight (not including his clone)

To me, any death counts if the reader is expected to believe it. Especially if the writer meant it at the time!
I think the same about Jean.

Let's face it, comics are a mess lately!

Since how long? It's an interesting question, I think:
For me, it's since the '90s; others would probably say more recently. Others might say we're on the upswing. Others say since the '80s.

That said, there are still things out there that are good.

~ Le Messor
"My 90s-era comic collection won't burn itself!"
~ Teenomicon, Welcome To Showside #1