I think the alternate path you presented is definitely compelling and I'm sure some people would have preferred it to what we got. The only point I would make is that none of the other netflix series have started that way. Everyone so far has been new, flawed, and suffering from some sort of past emotional trauma. So maybe netflix wanted to stay consistent.

And if he became the iron first one would assume he was the best fighter from the said monastery...no ?

I guess it's fair to infer that. I just don't think they ever explicitly said he was the best so whenever i hear people say "if he's the best then why...blah blah?" I just go back to it was said that he was both chosen and earned the iron first mantle, they never said iron fist is given to k'un l'un equivalent of their heavyweight champ. And he admitted he wasn't fully trained, so maybe cut the cut the guy some slack. Also based on his flashbacks, his training mostly consisted of his getting beat with sticks lol.

And i guess just to clarify my position - I'm not saying you're wrong or that you're suggesting would have been better or worse. I'm just saying I think I can see why the fights and story were done the way they were, why they kept danny white, and I'm overall satisfied with the result. It's consistent with what they've been doing with all the other Netflix MCU series in overall look and feel, pace, story themes, and fight choreography. Expecting something else, and judging it by those expectations isn't really fair in my opinion. Just seems like are judging iron fist extra harshly for whatever reason. Those that don't like the pace and fights in this one should also not like the pace and fights of JJ, LK, and DD. If we are holding IF to a higher standard that's fine, let's just be honest about it, but again, I don't think that's fair.