I remember talking about Death Note in college and reading it over winter break but I never revisited because I would just hear about it from other people and not need reminders? (This is how I act in general re things I enjoyed that are popular in fandom vs things I enjoyed that aren't popular I'm more likely to revisit). When I realize how there was a bad fan translation of it that was big first I'm like oh wait, this was old enough to be in that era of anime/manga. Of course I'm aware that fan translations for manga are still a big thing even if I read very little manga but I think the quality of them is generally better?

I've definitely enjoyed reading your reactions/feelings to your revisit even if I wasn't around for your first forays. I subscribe to the Light/himself being best Light ship, maybe because I didn't really have any Death Note ships before but even so I think it's great for the reasons you say.