Guys, there's more to sx than just the finish. If that's all you're focused on, you're going to get diminishing returns. It's a story, not a game.
Putting Professor cap on
Ever seen Lord of the Rings? Well, the books end much differently. In the movies, the hobbits get back to the shire, and everything is great. They're victorious and go for a drink.
But the books? Nope. They get back to the shire, and everything's gone to hell. Saruman corrupted many hobbits and destroyed the Shire. It's a downer.
Until that point, though, the journeys are largely the same. So, does the book ending just negate the entire series? Hell no.