Why Leo?

It's poetic and powerful and to undermine it is hot fanservice garbage.

I mean, we're on a rom hacking site. Isn't it all fanservice?

I agree with a lot of what you said though in his character study though. If he doesn't die, he has to go through an arc where he realizes his blindness and seeks redemption. You're hitting the nail on the head of why I am going through all of this work when General Leo Edition already exists. In my view, Celes and Leo are two sides to the same coin, but they ARE different. As far as we know, Celes was ignorant of Terra and defected the first chance she got. However, she received a Magitek infusion. Leo, on the other hand, refused the Magitek infusion, but blindly stayed with the Empire, leading men to their deaths for something that wasn't real. They both have something to bring to the story.

The key to all of this is his relationship with his soldiers. In my hack, I have given the "Injured Lad" the name of "Dak" (after Luke's co-pilot in the battle of Hoth). He is the soldier that Leo talks to in the military camp ("You're from Maranda, right?..."), so he doesn't show up in Mobliz until after you get the airship. He explains that he was trying to catch up to Leo to warn him of Kefka's plan of poisoning, but Kefka sent troops to rough him up and dump him in the river. He and Leo have a short scene if you visit him prior to the floating continent. In the World of Ruin, Leo is the one writing letters on Mt. Zozo. He explains that Lola/Dak made him realize the depth of his blindness, and he's been writing letters to bring hope to the loved ones of the men who served under him and died because of it. In his diary, you learn he has done this for over 20 soldiers. He rejoins you out of an attempt to right his wrongs.

Also, any hack has to have a death in Thamasa that carries the emotional weight of the story. I've done a rewrite of the story that puts Banon in that place.