I think introducing another young female tech genius in a franchise where Shuri already had that role nailed down did nothing to help Riri's character be established in her own right.

The film was 30 minutes too long and plenty of people wanted the Martin Freeman stuff cut, which is fair enough, but I think adding Riri in was another burden on a film that already had plenty to accomplish anyway in terms of moving on from Boseman, honouring him, and telling its own story while introducing a whole new dimension to the MCU via Namor.

Riri would have been a good fit in the next season of Hawkeye or something more grounded, so she could have stood out more and not just be another new super suited fighter in a film full of them.