Odd take - initially there were some requirements for unlocking the ending but got removed

Let me explain (puts on tinfoil hat)

I have managed to get both endings and there feels like a huge contrast between the destroy elpis and release elpis endings' quality. The destroy one goes straight for the ending once you make the choice, but in release elpis there is much more going on like a boss fight as well as a proper happy epilogue.

So it has made me come to a conclusion that the "release elpis" ending was initially meant to be locked behind some secret objectives.

Now remember in Resident evil 1, if you failed to find some key items or chosen some odd options you could end up with your teammates dead and even leaving the mansion intact and skipping the final tyrant fight. In similar fashion I believe you were initially required to collect certain items related to Grace's past and piece them together for Grace to come to the conclusion of the Elpis being Spencer's "Requiem" aka cure for the disease.

Now I believe, during development they realised that maybe players won't put in the effort to unlock this ending and the destroy elpis ending would leave a sour taste in alot of people's mouths. So they just decided to throw in the ending without any effort to have people leave with a happy end after all the finale lab section was a bit tiresome.

So what do you guys think? Is it a possibility or should I just put the tinfoil hat off?