I meant desperate as in urgent and impatient and that is why she was harsh with her teenage self, possessed Emma, manipulated Teen Jean to get the phoenix spark, etc. Jean not being saint Jean is the character I prefer though I do like that she has high ideas about morality and ethics that she tries to live up to but like all of us occasionally fails at it.
You are probably not wrong about a female writer doing a better job with Teen Jean but I think the solo was still highly enjoyable and had several good moments. At least Jean got some major focus and got to star in an on-going.