Andromeda is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree. I send the asari to Hackett and keep the hologram as a hologram instead of having a platform

That was honestly kind of on them as the ending to Mass Effect 1 did set up a goal for Shepard to seek to complete in Mass Effect 2: finding a way to stop the Reapers. Mass Effect 2 could have had a plot that helped bridge the story of the first and the last game while still introducing the much-loved companions and their respective missions. It could have been about Shepard recruiting people and making preparations for the Reaper invasion.

For fun, here's one of my takes on what I think could have been: instead of being a convenient blueprint conveniently found on Mars, the Crucible could have been found by Shepard after the latter searches far and wide for information left behind in secret by the Protheans for the next cycle.

Instead of his pointless plan, Harbinger's plan could have been to gather information through espionage and sabotage Shepard's effort by using indoctrinated agents. As a twist, it could be discovered that Harbinger's true goal was always the Alpha Relay and he was merely pretending to focus on the weapon to make it seem like that was the true threat to the Reapers. In actuality, Harbinger saw the weapon as of no danger because the Alpha Relay would have meant the harvest would have begun long before the weapon could be finished and a threat. Shepard discovers this because of information left by the Protheans that reveal how the Reapers arrived and which relay it was through. The Suicide Mission is Shepard and the crew attempting to destroy the Relay and just narrowly succeeding. Basically, Harbinger would be a shadow villain.

Cerberus could be similar to Harbinger in methods but with their own agenda: Instead of destroying it, the Illusive Man would be interested in acquiring the weapon. Miranda would be a squadmate who was initially a spy for the Illusive Man but who changes sides. Additionally, the Shadow Broker could be involved by seeking to acquire the weapon as a way of gaining a deal with Harbinger similar to the one he believes he would have gotten by acquiring Shepard's body. 

By the end of the game, preparing for the invasion and delaying the Reaper provides enough time to make the construction of the Crucible a possibility as the latter adds more time and the formers increases the odds that they'll be able to construct it during the invasion. Shepard surrenders to the Alliance as a war with the batarians could destabilize the galaxy and undo much of the planning and preparations. 

Yes, wait and see.  I thought ME3 showed some early promise of that happening... with being teamed with Anderson right off the bat; but then they seemed to back away from that approach.  The Citadel and Omega DLCs also showed that it was certainly possible.  I think the "support" cast of ME:A got a little too large to manage in such a way... but it would have been cool to have had actual side-by-side mission with the other pathfinders, and a separate mission with Reyes or Sloane, a medical mission with Lexi, an engineering adventure with Gil, or even an archaeology mission even with Avela.  We did get a little taste of something with Vorn and with following dad through the first Kett facility, but it was pretty minor.  Sid could have had more involvement in Vetra's LM as well.

Thank you. Shepard's death was so unnecessary that Shepard didn't even seem to think it was worth sparing thoughts about. I think that if Shepard needed to be out of commission for the sake of a time skip then I feel it'd be better to put Shepard in a coma. 

Because we knew the Reapers would focus on Earth. Even as early as ME2. They considered Shepard a threat and as such would focus on Earth. As the game progresses it becomes clear Earth is their primary target.

Adm. Hackett said it himself. The war will be won or lost on Earth. They either could aid us or face extinction. That simple.

I'd replace edi with miranda and liara with feron

"Andromeda is awesome"

* Talks about ME3 *

This place is too boring to visit without troll threads.  

To be honest, I don't see why the war would be won or lost on Earth. 

That I believe is the difference from the negative threads.