That would've been awfully close to the Southgate transit centre (around 700m) which does not make any sense to at all, and would still keep it distant to the vast majority of residents in Royal Gardens, Duggan, etc.
37 Ave would be almost exactly halfway between Southgate and Century Park, would still be a 5-10 min walk from all these places you mentioned, with no dangerous crossings (provided they did the same kind of thing they did at Century Park).
So let me understand here:
Your first main issue is that transit would take priority over cars and make your driving less convenient.
Your second one is that it would bring "undesirables" close to the neighbourhood.
This is a mature and somewhat central (by today's standards) neighbourhoods, and Edmonton cannot afford to cater to spoiled suburbanites who want to have their car-centric suburban hellscape while still being close to amenities at the expense of what is better for the vast majority of the people, in the long run.
I will add that it would be exceptional is the LRT was grade separated at Whitemud and 34 ave. when we could close off 40 Ave for left turns and people could just get around through 106 st and Whitemud or 34 Ave. to cross 111 st.