Shinn and Kira actually BEING rivals might have been enough to save Destiny.
They only met face to face twice (counting Final Plus), and every time they fought (which was too few, and included neither of those face-to-face meetings), neither knew who the hell the other was beyond "pilot of Freedom" and "pilot of Impulse/Destiny". Hell, Kira probably didn't even know that the same guy piloted Impulse and Destiny.
Yeah I will say that The Kira Shinn thing was kind like ehh but cool at the same time, I think thy have an alternate ending where Athrun introduces Shinn to Kira. But yeah I agree if Shinna was half or even quarter what Ryuho was it would have been better.
you got my vote.kira took to much from the shinn of destiny and pretty much ruined it.if it wasn't for the shinn and stella bit the anime.i would had never watched it