Indeed, her dealing with her own emotions as well as helping others do it was really what was so good. As you say, the ending wasn’t to my taste either. When she wrote that final letter to Gilbert at the end of the series I was so moved I could barely see the screen through my tears. And it really fit perfectly, she started by writing a letter, she ended by writing a letter and in that letter she really wrestles with everything. The very end kind of cheapens that moment a bit for me. But overall I find it a very good anime and I just kinda disregard the ending personally haha.