When I first got into Kpop back in 2014-2015, EXO basically ruled the space. You couldn't escape their music, and with songs like Call Me Baby, Growl, and Overdose, it was hard to see their momentum slowing any time soon. I personally got into K-pop after hearing Overdose, and although I'm not an exo-l, I still kept up with their title releases (Tempo being one of my favorites in recent years).
However, with SM repeatedly mistreating them, having members leave left and right, and now having their most recent comeback with fractured member units… it really begs the question of why SM continues to treat their groups so poorly when they have all the potential to say on top. Even with groups like Shinee and Aespa, you can see a pattern of mistreatment.
I'm not that well versed with SM as a company, so maybe someone who is more SM-biased in terms of groups can shed a little light as to what they think happened.
EXO really deserved better…