Where does it ever imply that Jack is in love with Elizabeth? He desires her, maybe wants her, but I'm not entirely sure he's in LOVE with her to the point that he'd die without her.Jack will have his freedom. He loves that, I think, above all else; even the Pearl. If he doesn't have the Pearl, he'll have fun chasing her down, and I have this image in my head of Barbossa and Jack spending a few years chasing each other back and forth across the seas, constantly challenging each other as each one gets the Pearl.
Then I think they'd retire and hang out at Tortuga, looking at the pretty ladies and drinking rum, telling stories to the new generations of pirates.
Character development does not always mean that characters morph and change into something new. Often times it means that characters go through a few changes, and come to the conclusion that what they had originally is what they really want.
There's nothing wrong with that. They take the lessons that they've learned, and they apply them to their new lives.
In Jack's case, he's learned that the Pearl is just a ship, and he can relax over not having her. He didn't sell his soul for her, he's not in any more danger (other than the usual stuff for being a pirate), and he can sort of relax for the first time in what...thirteen years? Dude, the man needs a vacation, not a relationship.
Elizabeth will have learned that sometimes, yes, you have to communicate with the person you love, that you can't just take for granted that they will always be there for you.
Killing Jack, losing her father, probably losing James, and losing Will for ten years will have taught her that. She has learned to value people that she cares for, and that her decisions will affect everyone around her.
That's not a bad lesson to learn.
Will will have learned that sometimes doing a stupid thing is a really good thing, and sometimes it's a really bad thing. He will find his value as a person, finally, by rescuing lost souls, freeing those whom DJ has held captive for so long, and keeping his hope and faith in Elizabeth.
After nearly losing each other in the first film because of Barbossa, and then nearly losing each other in DMC because of DJ and Elizabeth's bad decision, to nearly losing each other again because of Will's bad decision and the curse, it would be lovely for Will and Elizabeth to finally be together.
Fighting for what you love, even if it's difficult, even if it's painful, even against insurmountable odds...I can think of very few things that give a more powerful message. Maybe it could be more feminist friendly, or more minority friendly, or any other number of social or political issues could have been covered, but I truly believe that people need to be reminded that the only things worth having in this world are the things you have to fight for.
Underlying all of this is the message for redemption and hope that no matter how far you fall, if you are willing to work at it, you CAN better yourself.
Beyond all of this, though, and moving into more shallow realms, is that this movie is beautiful, from the actors to the music to the scenery. It is going to be a phenominal film.
This film is so much more than J/E or W/E...why not give it a try before complaining that this isn't what you want. Just...give it a chance, and ENJOY the entire film experience. If we all do that, I don't think we'll be disappointed in what happens.