I think you touch on a really good point. If the federal government was to use its powers like a cudgel to force compliance of the states it also creates a single point of failure if you have a change of government. We should be looking at building legislation at both the federal and state level synergistically.

Tangentially, look at the damage Roe V Wade has caused by being overturned. From how I've understood it the federal (and some state governments) have basically relied on the supreme court decision instead of building proper legislation to protect abortion.