I think Sam was right to sympathize with the Flag Smashers.....up to a point. The Smashers did have a valid concern and I think it could be argued that voicing that concern through proper channels hadn't achieved anything (I believe this is talked about a few times?). But that only gets you so far and when the Smashers started killing people, especially innocent ones, that's where Sam should have drawn the line. By the final episode I was like "Gods dammit Sam what're you doing? Take those bastards down!"
I dunno about the show just putting everyone back to post-Endgame status though. Bucky isn't in the same headspace and has done a lot to put his time as the Soldier behind him, Sam's reconnected with his family and community and has the spotlight (literally) on him as the new Cap. Sharron is in a totally different place. Stuff with Val and USAgent hint at what's coming next. And we got our best look yet at the larger socio-political climate post-blip. I really don't agree with the notion that the show didn't ultimately change anything or advance the characters.
Like you, I've enjoyed phase 4 but I'm not blind to its flaws either. But after the spectacle of Infinity War-Endgame, I think it's been nice to get these more character-focused stories. I think as we shift into a MCU without the core faces of Tony and Steve (and Nat, and whoever else is leaving soon; Clint? Thor?) it's been good to showcase the secondary characters like this. Makes it feel more like a natural evolution and less like a new starting point (and the IP's still finishing up their trilogies is a blessing in disguise for the same reason).
So what did the article say? I'm assuming "why didn't Steve stop these awful things from happening?" I don't get the argument, honestly. The entire point of Steve going back in time, whether he's in a branched timeline or not, is that he *retired.* I think losing in Infinity War was it for him. He wasn't part of Nat's Avengers. He was done fighting....until Scott came along with a plan that gave Steve the chance to tie up loose ends and redeem his Infinity War loss. He was already retired, Endgame just gave him the chance to retire the way he wanted to, and with a semi-clean conscience. And I don't think he'd take such a big risk anyway.
Look at old Loki; he lived a long time after Thanos "killed" him, on a deserted planet right? We're talking centuries, maybe thousands of years, given Asgardian/jotun lifespans. But the TVA didn't find him until old Loki tried to leave and engage with the wider galaxy again. When he was living on his rock, all by himself, he wasn't impacting history. I think Steve did the same thing, but instead of living by himself on an alien planet he just became a house husband.