Not to minimize the *significant* actions of the lighter combatants in that melee, Leyte Gulf never developed into a peer vs. peer capital ship surface battle slugfest. It's a pity that Halsey pulled the newer battleships too far north.
Drachinifel's YouTube channel has a pretty good "what if" video about that battle's possible outcome if Halsey had detached the battleships before chasing the Japanese bait. Pretty logical assessment of how the Yamato would've fared vs. Iowas and SoDaks (and even Ching Lee's USS Washington) as part of a traditional battle line.
I was thinking of Adm Oldendorf and the old battleships at Surigao Strait. Maryland, Pennsylvania, California etc. shot the Japanese to pieces there.