Rereading Homestuck helped a lot. It's an extremely layered story; most important items or events wind up running parallel to something much earlier. Going through a second time got me to appreciate the way Homestuck grows around itself. It also made me reevaluate characters and how they change (or refuse to) throughout.

For the record, I think you're dead wrong about the Epilogues ignoring the characterization in the comic preceding it. "What happens to these people when the story ends and they no longer have roles to play?" It's being an adult after growing up in a wildly abusive environment and having to piece together a new existence. It's incredibly uncomfortable for sure, but it begs the question: More uncomfortable than what was in Homestuck? The trigger warning wall is a beautiful setpiece that warns the reader about things Homestuck wasn't afraid to just drop on your head.