...I don't understand what your problem is, exactly?
The option to change your character is there any time, you're not forced to stick with one character through the whole game. I personally alternated between every character every few levels, because that was fun for me.
And I dunno what you mean by "Long ass haul. The game is pretty breezy, I beat Bowser in a weekend. I honestly wish it was longer because it's just that good.
I'm refraining from writing this post off as simple haterism because I can tell you're trying to make a point, but I dunno what it is. Explain