It's an issue in society that deserves to be addressed. Did you just stop watching before the end of the episode? The conversation he had with Steven on the plane ride back to the barn? -__-;
For me it's about the feels, mostly, but those things are important too. The fight between Alexandrite and Malachite was epic. o_o
I'm really curious about Rose myself and specifically what Lion is and why only Steven can activate his mane...
I don't think getting old has much of anything to do with it. The notion that things like cartoons and video games are only for kids is one of a number of traditional values that are slowly going out the window. Some peeps reading will auto-troll when I say that it's not about the quality (at least as far as SU and AT go). Maybe your subconcious is looking for new outlets because you've become stagnated?
I don't think the kindness is entirely a front. She really does love the Candy people and the iron fisted dictator stuff is measures she took to protect them.
There are six more episodes that are supposed to air near the end of the month.
"Two Swords"
"Do No Harm"
"Wheels"
"High Strangeness"
"Horse and Ball" (The return of James Baxter, which I am actually very happy about)
and "Jelly Beans have Power"