It's the worst. Akira was writing chapter to chapter with no grand plan. His editor made him switch villains from Gero to the Androids to Cell all at the flip of a switch, and Semi-Cell was even edited down for the sake of rushing the saga.
Cell is basically less interesting Frieza who relies on regeneration for a cheap gimmick, and then immediately goes berserk when hes losing a fight. Frieza did not, contrary to popular belief, foam at the mouth. He stayed and fought. Cell ignores his own advice to Trunks earlier in the saga, bulks up and acts like a retard on roids.