One of the reasons I like Elvira is because (and this is definitely not an unproblematic portrayal) she does have much more complex feelings towards Giovanni, as opposed to Donna Anna or even Zerlita, who in this production were definitely way more one-note.

It turns out that when you make Giovanni just a lecher, downplay the rapey aspects of his sexual encounters, and make the women act compliant (not in a coerced way, but in an enthusiastic way, I'm looking at you, Donna Anna), that kills all the dramatic tension in the show.

I can't disagree with your assessment, thinking back on it, and I think you've hit on a major feature of this production that I didn't consciously put together when I saw it, or when I wrote this post. You're right about the dramatic tension, and Giovanni's fate, and that's why the director didn't have the singer punch it up--for him, Giovanni's fate isn't a summary judgment on his crimes, the only fitting punishment, it's just some random supernatural hoo-hah or something.