That's true. It's a catch 22. He could have been used the way it went down, or, given that he's the only Gorosei with an established villain arc needing a payoff, he could have faced Luffy in a true fight. Imo, the latter was more fitting from a narrative and thematic perspective.
But TAC is yelling at me that I'm smug for saying so
But TAC is yelling at me that I'm smug for saying so