I think to put my finger on it. One thing I like about games with long seasons is the small little progressions you make along the way. Every little thing adds up to something bigger.
Sea of Thieves nailed it with their rotating seasons with their factions and faction rewards. You can dedicate yourself to the different section and get rewards over time based on what you want to try and unlock. (In this case, the season pass has rewards you chip away at, but the factions have specific rewards you can strive for.)
Also nearly EVERY action during play contributes to XP and currencies, allowing small rewards per actions you would otherwise already be doing.
Forza, similarly, rewards you from play through as many forms of participation as humanly possible, allowing for currency to be used to more item unlocks.
I think that those are the places to look with how you handle a season and season progression. Reward people for what theyre already going to do anyway so that they can chip away at progression. It makes it more tempting to purchase the battle pass when Im already half way progressed in a season vs being near the end and saying “Wow, Ive still got so much left to go.”
And even though the seasons (and this is a good thing) permanent and can be progressed at any time, Id rather not be working on season one stuff by the time season 2 is released.
Good luck fiddling with the levers, thanks for scratching a LONNNNNG needed Halo itch.