What a great review. I think three minor quibbles I have with the show are that 1) if the gimmick were really intended to work, they should have hired actors who were well-known. Like if say Kirsten Dunst and Awkwafina played the characters, we could really differentiate them from the kids. These two are slightly more gangly and taller but they have no name recognition to me, so I don't immediately get that they're adults when I watch the show. 2) don’t give the characters braces and kid hairstyles, that’s what makes for this icky uncanny valley effect. if these are adults looking back on childhood as your theory suggests, then make them adults being framed opposite kids. 3) set it in, say, 1995-1997. I was in middle school from 1994-1997 and that would seem to match the timeline of the show much better (kids wearing bell bottoms, AIM, complete tone-deafness to bullying which Columbine changed, some of the music cues)

Also, I agree with you that the show probably is following protocols, but it couldn’t hurt that the show clarify it itself.