Originally Posted by Andrew Dee
how I can develop the arrangement of a song so that it keeps a listener engaged
These are all really good ideas, but not for one specific song, rather to have them on hand when a song actually needs them.
I'm a BIG fan of loud choruses where the drums make your ears bleed, but two songs ago (this one), the song told me it didn't need any drums at all, so I just left them out.
Or swimming against the tide, soft choruses and loud verses can also sound fantastic.

Try out different things and let your own taste decide whether they contribute to the development of the song or not.