diff --git a/src/cmd/common/table.go b/src/cmd/common/table.go
index 0b98266fe7..596c9dc3af 100644
--- a/src/cmd/common/table.go
+++ b/src/cmd/common/table.go
@@ -6,16 +6,19 @@ package common
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/pkg/helpers/v2"
 	"github.com/fatih/color"
-
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/lint"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/logger"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/message"
 )
 
+// OutputWriter provides a writer to stdout for user-focused output
+var OutputWriter = os.Stdout
+
 // PrintFindings prints the findings in the LintError as a table.
 func PrintFindings(ctx context.Context, lintErr *lint.LintError) {
 	mapOfFindingsByPath := lint.GroupFindingsByPath(lintErr.Findings, lintErr.PackageName)
@@ -42,9 +45,11 @@ func PrintFindings(ctx context.Context, lintErr *lint.LintError) {
 		} else {
 			packagePathFromUser = filepath.Join(lintErr.BaseDir, findings[0].PackagePathOverride)
 		}
+
+		// Print table to our OutputWriter
 		message.Notef("Linting package %q at %s", findings[0].PackageNameOverride, packagePathFromUser)
 		logger.From(ctx).Info("linting package", "name", findings[0].PackageNameOverride, "path", packagePathFromUser)
-		message.Table([]string{"Type", "Path", "Message"}, lintData)
+		message.TableWithWriter(OutputWriter, []string{"Type", "Path", "Message"}, lintData)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/cmd/connect.go b/src/cmd/connect.go
index 358a9e1ac3..9a7a13a241 100644
--- a/src/cmd/connect.go
+++ b/src/cmd/connect.go
@@ -97,9 +97,6 @@ var connectListCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		// HACK: Re-initializing PTerm with a stderr writer isn't great, but it lets us render these
-		// tables for backwards compatibility
-		message.InitializePTerm(logger.DestinationDefault)
 		message.PrintConnectStringTable(connections)
 		return nil
 	},
diff --git a/src/cmd/dev.go b/src/cmd/dev.go
index 2bd49ee3f5..c7471d72ca 100644
--- a/src/cmd/dev.go
+++ b/src/cmd/dev.go
@@ -262,11 +262,6 @@ var devFindImagesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 		var lintErr *lint.LintError
 		if errors.As(err, &lintErr) {
-			// HACK(mkcp): Re-initializing PTerm with a stderr writer isn't great, but it lets us render these lint
-			// tables below for backwards compatibility
-			if logger.Enabled(ctx) {
-				message.InitializePTerm(logger.DestinationDefault)
-			}
 			common.PrintFindings(ctx, lintErr)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
@@ -314,11 +309,6 @@ var devLintCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		err := lint.Validate(ctx, pkgConfig.CreateOpts.BaseDir, pkgConfig.CreateOpts.Flavor, pkgConfig.CreateOpts.SetVariables)
 		var lintErr *lint.LintError
 		if errors.As(err, &lintErr) {
-			// HACK(mkcp): Re-initializing PTerm with a stderr writer isn't great, but it lets us render these lint
-			// tables below for backwards compatibility
-			if logger.Enabled(ctx) {
-				message.InitializePTerm(logger.DestinationDefault)
-			}
 			common.PrintFindings(ctx, lintErr)
 			// Do not return an error if the findings are all warnings.
 			if lintErr.OnlyWarnings() {
diff --git a/src/cmd/package.go b/src/cmd/package.go
index 5ab1f4e2b9..52b640279c 100644
--- a/src/cmd/package.go
+++ b/src/cmd/package.go
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/logger"
-
 	"github.com/AlecAivazis/survey/v2"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/pkg/helpers/v2"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -29,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/internal/packager2"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/cluster"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/lint"
+	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/logger"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/message"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/packager"
 	"github.com/zarf-dev/zarf/src/pkg/packager/filters"
@@ -237,9 +236,6 @@ var packageInspectCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to inspect package: %w", err)
 		}
-		// HACK(mkcp): This init call ensures we still can still print Yaml when message is disabled. Remove when we
-		// release structured logged and don't have to disable message globally in pre-run.
-		message.InitializePTerm(logger.DestinationDefault)
 		err = utils.ColorPrintYAML(output, nil, false)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -281,12 +277,8 @@ var packageListCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			})
 		}
 
-		// NOTE(mkcp): Renders table with message.
 		header := []string{"Package", "Version", "Components"}
-		// HACK(mkcp): Similar to `package inspect`, we do want to use message here but we have to make sure our feature
-		// flagging doesn't disable this. Nothing happens after this so it's safe, but still very hacky.
-		message.InitializePTerm(logger.DestinationDefault)
-		message.Table(header, packageData)
+		message.TableWithWriter(message.OutputWriter, header, packageData)
 
 		// Print out any unmarshalling errors
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/src/cmd/root.go b/src/cmd/root.go
index 1e02891796..27957c6299 100644
--- a/src/cmd/root.go
+++ b/src/cmd/root.go
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ var (
 	SkipLogFile bool
 	// NoColor is a flag to disable colors in output
 	NoColor bool
+	// OutputWriter provides a default writer to Stdout for user-facing command output
+	OutputWriter = os.Stdout
 )
 
 var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
diff --git a/src/pkg/message/connect.go b/src/pkg/message/connect.go
index 499a9e3602..755ccf764a 100644
--- a/src/pkg/message/connect.go
+++ b/src/pkg/message/connect.go
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@ func PrintConnectStringTable(connectStrings types.ConnectStrings) {
 
 		// Create the table output with the data
 		header := []string{"Connect Command", "Description"}
-		Table(header, connectData)
+		TableWithWriter(OutputWriter, header, connectData)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/pkg/message/credentials.go b/src/pkg/message/credentials.go
index 998fa41283..42f472c62b 100644
--- a/src/pkg/message/credentials.go
+++ b/src/pkg/message/credentials.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func PrintCredentialTable(state *types.ZarfState, componentsToDeploy []types.Dep
 
 	if len(loginData) > 0 {
 		header := []string{"Application", "Username", "Password", "Connect", "Get-Creds Key"}
-		Table(header, loginData)
+		TableWithWriter(OutputWriter, header, loginData)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pkg/message/message.go b/src/pkg/message/message.go
index 0eea8b326c..22d49df673 100644
--- a/src/pkg/message/message.go
+++ b/src/pkg/message/message.go
@@ -33,17 +33,18 @@ const (
 	TermWidth = 100
 )
 
-// NoProgress tracks whether spinner/progress bars show updates.
-var NoProgress bool
-
-// RuleLine creates a line of ━ as wide as the terminal
-var RuleLine = strings.Repeat("━", TermWidth)
-
-// logLevel holds the pterm compatible log level integer
-var logLevel = InfoLevel
-
-// logFile acts as a buffer for logFile generation
-var logFile *PausableWriter
+var (
+	// NoProgress tracks whether spinner/progress bars show updates.
+	NoProgress bool
+	// RuleLine creates a line of ━ as wide as the terminal
+	RuleLine = strings.Repeat("━", TermWidth)
+	// OutputWriter provides a default writer to Stdout for user-focused output like tables and yaml
+	OutputWriter = os.Stdout
+	// logLevel holds the pterm compatible log level integer
+	logLevel = InfoLevel
+	// logFile acts as a buffer for logFile generation
+	logFile *PausableWriter
+)
 
 // DebugWriter represents a writer interface that writes to message.Debug
 type DebugWriter struct{}
@@ -249,6 +250,11 @@ func Paragraphn(n int, format string, a ...any) string {
 
 // Table prints a padded table containing the specified header and data
 func Table(header []string, data [][]string) {
+	TableWithWriter(nil, header, data)
+}
+
+// TableWithWriter prints a padded table containing the specified header and data to the optional writer.
+func TableWithWriter(writer io.Writer, header []string, data [][]string) {
 	pterm.Println()
 
 	// To avoid side effects make copies of the header and data before adding padding
@@ -271,8 +277,12 @@ func Table(header []string, data [][]string) {
 		table = append(table, pterm.TableData{row}...)
 	}
 
-	//nolint:errcheck // never returns an error
-	pterm.DefaultTable.WithHasHeader().WithData(table).Render()
+	// Use DefaultTable writer if none is provided
+	tPrinter := pterm.DefaultTable
+	if writer != nil {
+		tPrinter.Writer = writer
+	}
+	_ = tPrinter.WithHasHeader().WithData(table).Render() //nolint:errcheck
 }
 
 func debugPrinter(offset int, a ...any) {
diff --git a/src/pkg/utils/yaml.go b/src/pkg/utils/yaml.go
index e0b8a3e953..1c19f070b5 100644
--- a/src/pkg/utils/yaml.go
+++ b/src/pkg/utils/yaml.go
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@ func ColorPrintYAML(data any, hints map[string]string, spaceRootLists bool) erro
 		outputYAML = ansiRegex.ReplaceAllString(outputYAML, "")
 	}
 
-	pterm.Println()
-	pterm.Println(outputYAML)
+	content := strings.Join([]string{"\n", outputYAML}, "")
+	pterm.Fprintln(message.OutputWriter, content)
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/e2e/06_create_sbom_test.go b/src/test/e2e/06_create_sbom_test.go
index 9426a21d4c..d8e9d5eabc 100644
--- a/src/test/e2e/06_create_sbom_test.go
+++ b/src/test/e2e/06_create_sbom_test.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func TestCreateSBOM(t *testing.T) {
 
 	stdOut, _, err := e2e.Zarf(t, "package", "inspect", tarPath, "--list-images")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, "- ghcr.io/zarf-dev/doom-game:0.0.1\n", stdOut)
+	require.Contains(t, stdOut, "- ghcr.io/zarf-dev/doom-game:0.0.1\n")
 
 	// Pull the current zarf binary version to find the corresponding init package
 	version, _, err := e2e.Zarf(t, "version")
diff --git a/src/test/e2e/12_lint_test.go b/src/test/e2e/12_lint_test.go
index 2c77b14056..6f6ffbf26c 100644
--- a/src/test/e2e/12_lint_test.go
+++ b/src/test/e2e/12_lint_test.go
@@ -31,31 +31,32 @@ func TestLint(t *testing.T) {
 		configPath := filepath.Join(testPackagePath, "zarf-config.toml")
 		osSetErr := os.Setenv("ZARF_CONFIG", configPath)
 		require.NoError(t, osSetErr, "Unable to set ZARF_CONFIG")
-		_, stderr, err := e2e.Zarf(t, "dev", "lint", testPackagePath, "-f", "good-flavor")
+		stdOut, stdErr, err := e2e.Zarf(t, "dev", "lint", testPackagePath, "-f", "good-flavor")
 		osUnsetErr := os.Unsetenv("ZARF_CONFIG")
 		require.NoError(t, osUnsetErr, "Unable to cleanup ZARF_CONFIG")
 		require.Error(t, err, "Require an exit code since there was warnings / errors")
-		strippedStderr := e2e.StripMessageFormatting(stderr)
+		strippedStdOut := e2e.StripMessageFormatting(stdOut)
+		strippedStdErr := e2e.StripMessageFormatting(stdErr)
 
 		key := "WHATEVER_IMAGE"
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, lang.UnsetVarLintWarning)
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, fmt.Sprintf(lang.PkgValidateTemplateDeprecation, key, key, key))
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, ".components.[2].repos.[0] | Unpinned repository")
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, ".metadata | Additional property description1 is not allowed")
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, ".components.[0].import | Additional property not-path is not allowed")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, lang.UnsetVarLintWarning)
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, fmt.Sprintf(lang.PkgValidateTemplateDeprecation, key, key, key))
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, ".components.[2].repos.[0] | Unpinned repository")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, ".metadata | Additional property description1 is not allowed")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, ".components.[0].import | Additional property not-path is not allowed")
 		// Testing the import / compose on lint is working
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, ".components.[1].images.[0] | Image not pinned with digest - registry.com:9001/whatever/image:latest")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, ".components.[1].images.[0] | Image not pinned with digest - registry.com:9001/whatever/image:latest")
 		// Testing import / compose + variables are working
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, ".components.[2].images.[3] | Image not pinned with digest - busybox:latest")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, ".components.[2].images.[3] | Image not pinned with digest - busybox:latest")
 		// Testing OCI imports get linted
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, ".components.[0].images.[0] | Image not pinned with digest - ghcr.io/zarf-dev/doom-game:0.0.1")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, ".components.[0].images.[0] | Image not pinned with digest - ghcr.io/zarf-dev/doom-game:0.0.1")
 
 		// Check flavors
-		require.NotContains(t, strippedStderr, "image-in-bad-flavor-component:unpinned")
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, "image-in-good-flavor-component:unpinned")
+		require.NotContains(t, strippedStdOut, "image-in-bad-flavor-component:unpinned")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdOut, "image-in-good-flavor-component:unpinned")
 
 		// Check reported filepaths
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, "Linting package \"dos-games\" at oci://ghcr.io/zarf-dev/packages/dos-games:1.1.0")
-		require.Contains(t, strippedStderr, fmt.Sprintf("Linting package \"lint\" at %s", testPackagePath))
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdErr, "Linting package \"dos-games\" at oci://ghcr.io/zarf-dev/packages/dos-games:1.1.0")
+		require.Contains(t, strippedStdErr, fmt.Sprintf("Linting package \"lint\" at %s", testPackagePath))
 	})
 }
diff --git a/src/test/e2e/14_oci_compose_test.go b/src/test/e2e/14_oci_compose_test.go
index 3f8c0a452b..81fdd8c2d5 100644
--- a/src/test/e2e/14_oci_compose_test.go
+++ b/src/test/e2e/14_oci_compose_test.go
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func (suite *PublishCopySkeletonSuite) Test_1_Compose_Everything_Inception() {
 	_, _, err = e2e.Zarf(suite.T(), "package", "create", importception, "-o", "build", "--plain-http", "--confirm")
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
-	_, stdErr, err := e2e.Zarf(suite.T(), "package", "inspect", importEverythingPath)
+	stdOut, _, err := e2e.Zarf(suite.T(), "package", "inspect", importEverythingPath)
 	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	targets := []string{
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func (suite *PublishCopySkeletonSuite) Test_1_Compose_Everything_Inception() {
 	}
 
 	for _, target := range targets {
-		suite.Contains(stdErr, target)
+		suite.Contains(stdOut, target)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/e2e/24_variables_test.go b/src/test/e2e/24_variables_test.go
index b583a314d4..255988d4f8 100644
--- a/src/test/e2e/24_variables_test.go
+++ b/src/test/e2e/24_variables_test.go
@@ -58,11 +58,11 @@ func TestVariables(t *testing.T) {
 	stdOut, stdErr, err = e2e.Zarf(t, "package", "deploy", path, "--confirm", "--set", "SITE_NAME=Lula Web", "--set", "AWS_REGION=unicorn-land", "-l", "trace")
 	require.NoError(t, err, stdOut, stdErr)
 	// Verify that the variables were shown to the user in the formats we expect
-	require.Contains(t, stdErr, "currently set to 'Defense Unicorns' (default)")
-	require.Contains(t, stdErr, "currently set to 'Lula Web'")
-	require.Contains(t, stdErr, "currently set to '**sanitized**'")
+	require.Contains(t, stdOut, "currently set to 'Defense Unicorns' (default)")
+	require.Contains(t, stdOut, "currently set to 'Lula Web'")
+	require.Contains(t, stdOut, "currently set to '**sanitized**'")
 	// Verify that the sensitive variable 'unicorn-land' was not printed to the screen
-	require.NotContains(t, stdErr, "unicorn-land")
+	require.NotContains(t, stdOut, "unicorn-land")
 
 	logText := e2e.GetLogFileContents(t, e2e.StripMessageFormatting(stdErr))
 	// Verify that the sensitive variable 'unicorn-land' was not included in the log
diff --git a/src/test/e2e/25_helm_test.go b/src/test/e2e/25_helm_test.go
index a741c000ac..933fda4eb7 100644
--- a/src/test/e2e/25_helm_test.go
+++ b/src/test/e2e/25_helm_test.go
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ func testHelmChartsExample(t *testing.T) {
 	helmChartsPkg := filepath.Join("build", fmt.Sprintf("zarf-package-helm-charts-%s-0.0.1.tar.zst", e2e.Arch))
 	stdOut, stdErr, err = e2e.Zarf(t, "package", "deploy", helmChartsPkg, "--confirm")
 	require.NoError(t, err, stdOut, stdErr)
-	require.Contains(t, string(stdErr), "registryOverrides", "registry overrides was not saved to build data")
-	require.Contains(t, string(stdErr), "docker.io", "docker.io not found in registry overrides")
+	require.Contains(t, stdOut, "registryOverrides", "registry overrides was not saved to build data")
+	require.Contains(t, stdOut, "docker.io", "docker.io not found in registry overrides")
 
 	// Remove the example package.
 	stdOut, stdErr, err = e2e.Zarf(t, "package", "remove", "helm-charts", "--confirm")