You not being a Kite lover is reason enough to disregard your opinion on emotion.
And using the fact that EBW was being worked on back during NLOTH to justify the fact that it somehow doesn't fit on SOI and then somehow diminishes the emotion that Bono feels for it is ludicrous. I'm sure there are dozens of songs left over from every batch of work they do. It takes in new direction and life and comes to the fore once it's ready.
It was more than obvious that it was NOT ready to have it on NLOTH. The performances of it were really rough- it was a song with strong verses that died every time it got to a point where a chorus should be.
And just because SOI has songs about their youth doesn't mean it's out of place. The Troubles is maybe the best song on the album, but doesn't fit that mold.
EBW is definitely more open ended and nebulous in its meaning, I would say this goes for many of the bands biggest and most beloved hits. One, WOWY, ISHFWILF for example.
I think it's obvious at this point that this song is important to them and they believe in it. I balance the showman Bono with the true emotional Bono and of course both were present at the mtv performance. I think he knew a lot rode on that performance. He came out swinging and I think, got swept up in the momentum of it. I think it was strong and beautiful and was a stark statement that a band, now named the longest running signed band of all time, can play to the same audience that came to see Nikki manaj and they killed.