In this scene, the crew pretty much thinks it’s over. I thought this was an important scene to have because it represents a different sort of feeling. Before, after the army was gone and the men were ready to give up, they were truly ‘giving up.’ Now, they can see what they’ve accomplished, and feel good about it. It’s less a giving up, and more a realization that they’ve done what they could. (At least, so they think.)
There’s a distinction there, and I think it was important to have both in the book. This scene is kind of metaphorically showing that the crew wasn’t convinced all along that they could destroy the Lord Ruler and the Final Empire. It was too much. Instead, they always planned to do what they could, then pull out. I wouldn’t blame them, if I were you. They’ve been through a lot, and done a lot. They’re just more realistic than Kelsier.
Plus, they don’t know that an eighth of the book is still to come.
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