GRE Verbal Problem Solving Big book doubt

Please see this thread: Gre big book test 1 section 1 question 4

Yeah, it should contrast “find merit”.
Connotation would tell you its something negative.
Semantics would tell you its something like “unmerited”

Here , we have [simplicity and homogeneity] _____ [variety]

These two clearly contrast so the blank itself needs to be a contrast word. “differentiated” implies a change which creates a contrast.

“differentiated” is a verb here, not a noun like “variety”.