I absolutely understand where you're coming from, and I'm also absolutely certain that I'm hypnotizing myself into believing what I wrote via overanalysis just to escape the stark naked second hand embarrassment at the actual writing. Let's call it Head-Ret-Canon, shall we?
And yes bigger picture is the clue. I'm currently reading the non-fiction publication 'The Heroine's Journey' by Gail Carrier (a must read for any writing meta fan) and she also references theme and message and how important they are (and the writer's awareness and conscious application of them) for the narrative to work. I feel like the writers on SPN have been bogged down in the logistics of how to wrap up the show to the point of losing sight of giving meaning to the ending. Sigh. Let's hope the boys get some passable material to act the he'll out of that last leg and bring this home ×wibbles×