Or how much this is a perfect example of why absolute and hereditary monarchies suck. Or how the balance that the lions want and Simba restores includes the hyenas starving, of course they wanted better.

Um, yeah, I noticed that when I saw the live show. You do suddenly notice the kids tone to the story, especially in the second half. And while the hyenas wanted better, yes, I got the impression that the ecosystem couldn't afford the hyenas eating as much as they wanted -- i.e. there was too much hunting under Scar's rule and it impacted what was left.

So maybe it's less that the hyenas were starving as the hyenas were always hungry and wanting to eat. (Weird distinction, I know, but does that make sense?)