User blog comment:Markurion/A better ME3 endings/@comment-2228120-20120721155613/@comment-2228120-20120722051748

Ignoring that Destroy and Control are not the Catalyst's options, the problem with this argument is that the Catalyst wants to stop the Reapers. Which is what Shepard sought to do for the entire series

But you have to carry them out on the Catalyst's conditions, and since he presents them to you and forces you to choose from them, then they are the Catalyst's options.

One could argue that the three choices do have morality slants to them.

I never claimed they don't. The right side of the wheel is typically organized like that. What I meant for Paragon and Renegade are the left-side blue and red special options, which really are not available on every occasion but they represent Shepard's ability to act outside the set boundaries. Take e.g. Tali' court hearing: on the right side, you have options that follow the standard proceedings of such a hearing, i.e. presenting or withholding evidence. On the left side, with the special options, you can manouver outside these proceedings.

And if there was a "sunshine-and-flowers" solution, then why would anyone want any other outcome

Actually, in DAO, quite a few people pick the Ultimate Sacrifice ending, for the sake of roleplaying. And, as Zjxkl correctly points out, I was not proposing the "best" ending, I was merely proposing more options, more choice.