My take on this...I agree mostly OP
Agreed with all 3 points.
James and Bacon is more competition then friend at this stage...
So Here is my problems with specific Incest games:-
1) The Taboo is The Main reason for the incest game, for me without that I can not play it.
Some games just underplays it way to much.
Games that everyone else likes like Sister, sister, Sister, I could not get into. There is no challenge, or taboo. You see your sister/mom and immediately starts to lust for her for no reason. You flirt with no consequence, they immediately returns your affection. A new Home was another one...I could not get into it.
2) The MC is a creep.
Unfortunately that is most incest games. DMD is the worst offender. Big Brother as well.
I still liked the games, but especially the dad in DMD...he is pretty creepy.
Max is creepy, but I see him as more opportunistic. He is horny, and his sisters and mom is hot.
3) The Incest supporting friend. I love SL, but James fucking his sister was not my thing. Same with Bacon. Dreams of Desires was the same, although I did not fancy the friend's mom.
Here are some good Incest games done right.
1) Haley's story. This is perfect in terms of incest genre. The taboo, the tease, the buildup in this one is fantastic.
2) No more secrets. This was also done well, where the MC did not know his sister/mother and he starts of being morally compromised.
3) Light of My Live also very good. The premise is based on a tragedy in the family with no one really coping. Insecurity and guilt drives the story forward.
4) Bates Hotel also works, as the MC are heavily suggested to be a psychopath.
5) Where the female is the aggressor. Only 2 that I have played so far, and possible the best incest games for me .
Haley's Story and I love Daddy
The typical incest games works as there are normally a younger sister that have a crush on you.
An older sister that hates you and a mom that loves you, but not sexually.
So you grow sexually with younger sister with her exploring her sexuality.
Your older sister becomes a challenge to overcome. Conquest. (This is normally my favorite character)
The mom is the pure taboo, that works on the level that a mom loves her son unconditional and most teenage boys are basically sexually aroused by anything that moves with a pair of tits on. The younger the son, the more easily aroused.
The fact that he can not get any, makes the possibility that he hits on his family very plausible.