How do you add custom header content per category page?

Right now Squarespace commerce categories responds more like filters than actual categories that can have their own pages that can be optimized. I want to be able to optimize each category with unique titles, texts, and header images.

What are some ways to accomplish this?

You can consider using standard page, then use Summary Block to pull product belong that category, so you can add unique title, text, images... on this page

While I appreciate the idea, it is a real hack that makes this so much harder than it should be.

It would be grand if SS included this feature but it doesn't so all your are left with is hacks.

Please see the following.

Let us know how it goes.