Just finished this two days ago.
Great game. Shit just ran on too long like fuckin Bad Boys 2.
I didn't have any beef with Abby once her story began unfolding and seeing her motivations, and as far as the death of that other major character...I've watched enough of The Wire to not trip over shit like that at this point.
It was my first playthru so I was really motivated less by the gamesplay itself and more into progressing the story (but without cheating and watching YouTube). So by the time Ellie and Dina's farmhouse scene occurs I'd have accepted that as the game's happy ending.
So when Ellie fuckin LEAVES her family to make me FIGHT again, I was just rootin for Abby at that point. Crush her fuckin head with those boulder-punching arms so we can wrap this shit up already.
I'll probably resume playing soon enough with my upgrades intact and wreck shit, I'll prolly enjoy the journey more too.