I have some rather "dark" thoughts, but that doesn't mean I dislike Rin Satsuki.
If Rin Satsuki were still in existence, it would mean that the debate over "who is the third protagonist of Touhou" would be completely over. The main character structure will change from a "flexible triangle" to a "stable triangle." The space for discussion will naturally shrink.
And I believe the impact would go far beyond simply “fewer arguments.”
Playable slots in official titles are scarce resources. Every rotation produces a redistribution of popularity, a surge in derivative works, and a re-centering of musical arrangements and thematic focus. If Rin had permanently occupied one of those slots, the rotation dividend of the Windows era would have been significantly reduced. Some characters who later rose to prominence might never have had the same developmental window.
In other words, her presence would not merely add one more character—it would fundamentally alter the resource allocation mechanism within the franchise.
On a broader level, the fandom ecosystem might become more stable, but also more rigid.
I also think this would have influenced narrative style.
From a cultural evolution perspective, Rin Satsuki’s absence itself became productive space. She functions as a historical blank point—one that continually invites retrospective speculation and alternate-history thinking within the community.
If she had existed, Touhou might be more complete. But it might also be less open.
Personally, I lean toward the view that this sense of incompletion—this structural openness—is precisely one of the reasons Touhou has sustained creative vitality for over two decades.
