Kyoshi wasn't feared because she was powerful. Every Avatar is powerful. She was feared because she was willing to do what most Avatars won't.
She lived over 200 years, split Kyoshi Island from the mainland, stared down kings and warlords, and when Chin the Conqueror died, she openly accepted responsibility instead of hiding behind excuses or denying.
The fandom jokes that Kyoshi's answer to every problem was violence but that is not entirely true. She valued justice above image and if force was the only way to stop a threat, she doesn't hesitate.
That's what made her intimidating. Not her strength.
Her certainty and way of keep balance.
That’s a funny way to put it, but in-universe it’s more symbolic than literal.
Sokka and Suki don’t actually avoid kissing at night because Princess Yue is “watching.” Yue becomes the Moon Spirit, so she’s more of a spiritual presence than a conscious observer.
The moon symbolism is there to remind us of:
Sokka’s grief and loyalty to Yue
the emotional weight of moving on
and how the Moon Spirit is tied to waterbending and balance
So when Sokka eventually moves forward with Suki, it’s not him “waiting for permission from the moon,” it’s more about him finally finding peace with Yue’s sacrifice and being able to love again.
Still… the idea of Yue just casually side-eyeing from space is peak Avatar comedy