Smile, I love that story! That makes for a great analogy here.

Meredith, I had wanted to add a similar thought to my post, but it was already long enough. I think the same way, that a good, honest critique of YOUR work will improve and enhance YOUR work. You will know if their comments will improve and enhance, because it will somehow "click".

In this case, the comments appear to want to take you in a completely different direction...and that doesn't "click" at all with you...if it was where you wanted it to go, or even where the story itself wanted to go, it would "click". So listen to your instincts and go with what you know will "match your essay" and vision.