Yeah unfortunately Oda took the convenient/safe/easy way out as usual, thats him post TS especially, he doesn't have that same savagery he did back at Sabaody -> Marineford except in certain moments like Laws and Doflamingos flashbacks, Odens execution and such lol.
The Kaido 4/10 thing may not be a meme after all,
@EtenBoby was saying Kaido dropped from top 5 on their list before due to last chapter I think or something? Down to 6th? Can't remember well though lol.
There's still slim hope for Kaido awakening and he might get a powerup/the awakening if he gets his flashback as he should. He needs to see and react to Joyboy/Nika Luffy too and realise how truly fucked he is and how ironic the situation is right now. This may provoke a Kaido awakening but I cannot see Luffy losing anymore times especially after this happening.
We really should have gotten a Kaido rampage as you said, its very disappointing that Oda chickened out of doing it. A sort of "Bad End Musical" like with BM at WCI for Wano and to close Act 3? Act 3 is STILL going too, LMFAO!
But hell, we got Luffys Gear 5th and awakening FINALLY! I'm extremely hyped and in shock over that right now, I have a feeling Vegapunk will be finally appearing SOON after all due to this and this is why Shanks was meant to make his move last year, why Film Red is happening for Shanks later this year and such! Oda didn't just give us more Shanks stuff recently with Who's Who for nothing ofc!
My head is completely spinning like a Beyblade at least at the true form and name of Luffys DF. I can't process it, its overwhelming me entirely right now. Our 1043 chapters at most of our "rubber boy" and almost 25 years of him, all a complete lie now...