I think this feature request can be summarized as: add a setting to allow users to adjust the max zoom in the image viewer.
To answer your question about why there even is a max zoom. I use the app a lot with one hand. When I do this I double tap to zoom once, double tap again to zoom twice, then double tap to return to 1x zoom and then I can swipe the image away to go back. This series of gestures is what feels most natural to me. Without a max zoom, I'd have to do an edge swipe or a double tap + hold + drag. Not impossible just slightly less natural.