Really enjoyed reading your report as much as looking at your photos.
One thing keeps me away from Wakatobi though (I mean apart from the insane resort price, there are alternatives for diving the area but never considered the Wakatobi option), I am always stunned in the photos by the absence of fish that shoul be surrounding the coral patches in Indonesian spots like Komodo, Raja Ampat, Nusa Penida, Bangka or Maluku. Is it only an impression I have or did you also notice this similarly?
100% agree, price is crazy high and only seen a few very fishy pics and no muck.
For this sort of cash I would personally far sooner do a live aboard in RA or Komodo.
But each to their own. And I'm sure comparing Waka to Komodo or RA is like comparing a Maserati to a Lambo to Ferrari.... all amazing cars but everyone will have their favourite.