I feel bad for you, but I’m also on those roads and I feel bad for me. Please get glasses or polarizers or something.

You’re exactly right, it’s still the less terrible choice because it leaves an opportunity to fight back in the future. Rather than leave the empire to fall easily to the Aldmeri Dominion and Skyrim with less support, as well as Racist Ensalver Hold Leaders. Both suck.

Ideally you’d have the Dragonborn reunite Skyrim under the empire, challenge the High Queen for the position and defat, not kill, her, become high king, and then claim the position of Emperor of the empire (oh look, someone in the Dark Brotherhood killed the emperor) due to Divine Right of Dragon Blood, kick all Thalmor (not high elves) out of the empire, decree the illegality of Racism and Challenge anyone in Cyrodill to 'Disagree with me via combat. ’

But then we run into issues of “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and/or “what happens when Dragonborn no live no more”

Nah fam, racists are still racists. Religious oppression is definitely bad, but in the Skyrim scenario your choices are terrible. Support the Empire and oppress a religion, or support the Stormcloaks and condone the abuse and slavery of 3+ races.

I won’t choose religious persecution willingly, but I will always choose NOT putting abusive racists in power.