Took the high route over the valley route at Kings Canyon, no regrets

Was planning a 4 day loop out of Roads End and kept going back and forth between the Rae Lakes loop or just pushing up the high trail to the Sphinx Creek drainage. I picked the high route because my buddy told me the views open up fast and you skip the crowds near the river. First day was brutal, 3,200 feet of climb with a full pack, legs felt like rubber by mile 6. But once I got above the treeline around sunset, the whole canyon lit up orange and I forgot every ache. The water sources were trickier than the map showed, had to filter from a muddy seep near the saddle, but it worked out. My knees took a beating on the descent back down Bubbs Creek, that one was loose rock for miles. Has anyone else taken the high line there and found it worth the extra effort? I'm curious if the valley route would've been more chill for the first night.