I like something that has at least theoretical post-canon potential and my heart has yet to reconcile with Beefleaf.

I think this is me too, never occurred to me that this was my thing before you said it, thanks!

I think the difference for beefleaf vs xiyao for me is that beefleaf is not a moral difference between them? It's more that HX's beef is w/ SQX's brother. If it was with someone unrelated to SQX I think they could overcome it. They might argue about methods (like killing earth master) and extremes and HX lying but those are things they could overcome imo. For xiyao it's a lot more difficult and imo they have irreconcilable differences.