I will respond about Neal under spoiler code, so as to not upset any still emotional NF/SF fans who are lurking in here, so they dont ‘have’ to see it-
I understand your feelings on the points you brought up on your reaction to watching @obisgirl – I really think A&E had this planed, as they said, from the beginning- because when you look back on all the stuff we had a problem with, with Neal, it’s all stuff that had him ‘following in Rumples footsteps’ (cowardly, hypocritical, poor judgment, no regard for others with the consequences of his actions etc.). It’s all the stuff we noted, even though it was subtle at 1st (start of S2), but grew more pronounced as season 3 progressed. So yes, the writing was very much on the wall as to where it could lead (Neal turning to dark magic), which I believed I & a number of others called way back in S2, I seem to recall some even thought he’d die as a result of it as well.