On the overall, sorry. I've been referring to this sort of thing as a block with OG.
I agree, it would've been nice for an alternative path.
Actually, after reading through the OG's datalog dump, I have a better appreciation as to why the alternative scene can't work.
Ravus vows to return Regis's sword to the one True King, but said promise goes unfulfilled: Ardyn kills the High Commander in cold blood and transforms him into a daemonic shell of his former self.
There's a certain power in failure -- in a redeemed character dying without seeing his mission completed and being left with nothing but faith that good will out regardless. As such, I don't have a problem with Ravus' fate being left alone... as long as 13:2 is better integrated into the main story. =P
He hasn't said anything else about magic.
He did send me this though, which has another couple of comments about Noctis getting injured.
https://pastebin.com/4EcwtjSw
There's an interesting mix of stuff that ought to be added and stuff that was clearly replaced in that link.
This one in particular lines up so well with Noct's datalog entry that it's hard to imagine it isn't intended to be added into the game:
All the other kings were born with the power, King Regis included.
So, in the whole line of Lucis, Noct is the only dud?
Out of line.
His Highness is the victim here.
Oh, right, the attack.
Happened before I can remember. I was hurt, but nothing serious.
Is that all?
So they tell me.
Probably just born weird.
The prevailing theory.
What!?
There's no doubting your weirdness.
The information included in that dialogue is both important enough to go in Noct's datalog entry and still true, so there's no reason it shouldn't get added to the game. Plus, it seems like a real-time event, so it wouldn't take that much effort to add anyway.
The other dialogue about Noct's injuries isn't quite so important, but given that it's still true and an obvious set of real-time dialogue, there's little reason not to add it:
Oracles' runes are what sanctify these havens.
Never appreciated them until out here in the wild.
Benediction, purification, and healing are the province of the Oracle.
Impressive.
I can speak for the healing.
Ahhh...that injury from when you were little.
Yup.
Now I know why everyone makes such a big deal.
All this time, I had no idea.
In this case, you're not at fault for your ignorance.
We've been cut off from the empire all our lives.
Her miracles never reached the Crown City.
Yeah, no wonder.
The additions to the scene with Gentiana seem worth adding, too, though that'd be more work since it'd be a full cutscene:
Prince Noctis.
It's open! Uh, come in.
How are you feeling today? Gentiana?
Merely...well-wishing.
Ah, how thoughtful of you. So, did she frighten you?
Maybe...just a little. She's gone.
An old trick of hers. Here one minute, gone the next.
She gives me the creeps.
Funny you should say that: even my brother grows timid around Gentiana.
Even Ravus?
Yes, but you've nothing to fear. The Messengers have our best interests at heart. In time, you will see.
...If you say so.
The more about Luna, the better, in my mind. Plus, I like the implication that Luna knows what the nature of the Messengers are but still considers them to have her and Noct's best interests at heart... and that kid Ravus felt insecure around Gentiana.
As for the Chapter 9 stuff, it feels like a rougher draft of what we ended up getting. This part, in particular, doesn't fit with the canon anymore:
Pryna...
Pryna!
Such a terrible storm.
My poor escort... the waves ate him alive.
Pryna isn't male, and she didn't drown per Episode Ignis. As for Ardyn, he gets a bit more dialogue but doesn't say much more, so I'm not too disappointed about the likely cut. The same goes for the dialogue between Ignis and Noct -- it's not different enough to be fussed about the change.