Anyway, my argument is that any GOP WH and Senate was going to screw us over and up, and Trump really only inflamed racism -- and there's a strong backlash now to that -- and the disastrous COVID response. I have to figure a Pence or any other GOP would have done a poor job but still way better than Trump's hands-off and totally disorganized approach. Except for those two issues, Trump basically governed as a standard GOPer.
I think you grossly underestimated the cult of Trump and his attacks on so many US institutions, from Constituionasl rights, his belief he is above the law, the role of a free press in a democracy, underming the role of the government in governing, his dismantling oversight, all to empower himself, is a dangerous precedent for future US monarchs.
That in your words trump "only inflamed racism" and disasterous COVID response is IMO a a huge understatement to his dangerous and devastating impact on this country.
IMO a competent and honest Republican (McCain-RIP, Romney, Kasich and a few others) would have favored pro-corporate tax legislation or other pro-business/anti-consumer legislation, that might have hurt/weakened the environment, and I wouls have taken issue with, BUT they would not have gut American core principles that have weakened us to the point that not only do we no longer trust one another, but that distrust is turning to dangerous rage.
Nor would they have weakened our alliances with our friends and cozied up to fascists and our enemies, who will always be dangerous rivals. I do not understand the cult of Trump nor how it got such a stranglehold, but I think there are a few decent Repubs left, but they've bailed on the party (Lincoln Project etc) as they understand how dangerous Trump is to the long-rerm interests of our democracy.
IMO the legacy of the Trump era will be longer-lasting than you imagine. In fact, the idea that empty-suit right-wing ideolog Tucker Carslon might be the natural successor to Trump and the revival of Republican fortunes speaks eloquently to the long-term dangerous impact Trump has had on us.