To be fair, no one writes an essay in slides either. Undergrads are either preparing to enter the workforce or to continue their studies.
For the former, the "sharp tool" of a zine focuses on the thesis, to argue one thing well. One could argue no essential complexity is lost in zines [1].
It would be awesome though to compose an essay in an email and to be read in kind, footnotes and all.
[1] https://wizardzines.com/zines/
