The thing is though... the second that set of panels is over, Karkat is back to his old self, and that bothers me. He's so peaceful at that moment, hugging his moirail, smiling -- and then the fucks and contentiousness and bitterness are all back in full force. The development you speak of has no further consequence. He isn't even the leader; Rose or whoever is. He's suddenly an ornery little troll again. That's where it falls apart for me as a reader.