If you can unlink your address from a locked out account and then link it to a new account and add new 2FA factors to new account, and basically set it up again to be a replacement nearly identical to the original... how is that any different / more secure than just using a "reset account" feature that resets the original account (removes 2FA)?

We're still back to the recurring original problem with account security where the security of your account comes down to the security of your linked e-mail account.