I think that’s a fair take. Hearts have definitely looked much more organised and confident this season, and McInnes deserves a lot of credit for that. They’ve picked up results that probably wouldn’t have happened a year ago.
I’d still expect Celtic to win the league for the reasons you mentioned. The squad depth and consistency over a full season are hard for anyone else in Scotland to match. Even when they rotate, the quality barely drops.
As for second place, it honestly feels more open than usual. Rangers look completely off it right now, and if the uncertainty around the manager situation keeps affecting performances, Hearts could absolutely stay in that conversation. The big question is whether Hearts can keep this level up once injuries and fixture congestion start to hit. Cheers.