Zoro lived up to the hype? Oh please. Zoro said he would round up some samurai. He did not. Zoro said he would avenge yasue death... he did not. Zoro's ambition was overtaken by hiyori. Zoro said he would cut kaido to pieces... he did not. Zoro failed.
so Hiyori taking on Orochi does less to detract Zoros character and role in the arc and instead enhances another who has closer ties with Orochi.
Zoro fought King who did nothing for his character as a swordsman or as a fighter. King did not have conquerors haki or awakening.King did not have a notable sword. King only served to be enma's test dummy. King V Zoro was like Pica V Zoro. Not once was king shown to truly be dignant to fight zoro. Do not forget that zoro was under a drug when he fought king and was beat up before. King overrall is a joke and it was oda's way of saying zoro will never be better than luffy. Even King's backstory was a shot taken at Zoro and how luffy will be over Zoro which does not make any sense
But look at what zoro did in wano now? Nothing notable. Zoro is a failed ronin and a failed bushido.
This is what I meant when I said that Zoro lived up to the hype in this arc because the one thing people yearned for the most in wano was to see Zoro duke it out against a yonko. Whether ZKK happens or not, this on its own is a good way to pay off all three of those plot points you noted.
Queen could use germa tech without any problem but usopp franky and if you couple in chopper who are 3 scientists together could not figure out how to use it.
Dang you really can not see how oda has destroyed chopper huh?
Look dude I am grateful and thank oda for everything impactful that he did. One piece's good moments will forever be with me. However do you go and watch people's in the wheelchair basketball? If oda could not carry anymore then maybe he needs to stop and hand it over to other people. Why should I pretend enjoy something i do not enjoy because the author is a drawing addict and can not let go of the series which made him famous in consequence drags it out as long as he can to feel validated by others? Wasn't kishimoto shamed by others over naruto? Why should oda be different?
You think the solution would be to just find someone abled to continue the work but I asked you this. Would you read berserk if it continued being made by someone else? Personally not really because its no longer being made by the guy who put the series on the map in the first place making the journey to completion feel shallow. This sends the message that even creators themselves are disposable when fail to meet standards and that's when the product truly becomes corporate. This is speaking from how western comic creators are treated since as early as batman and superman's inception, the true creators were treated like dirt while the higher ups were too busy trying to make it nothing more than a commerical product. There are flaws with OP but I rather see Oda himself solve it with help from his editors as best as they can. And I do believe oda isnt trying to drag on purpose, just wants to make the most of what hes got.
People made fun of Naruto the series but I rarely see people go after Kishimoto himself and call out whether his heart was in or not even during the height of its popularity. And why should they? He was only making the best of his decision for a weekly story he didn't anticipate would be as big as it was. Shouldn't stop people from critiquing his works but it does devolve into entitlement when calling out ones work ethic/passion for the most taxing job a writer or artist can do.
Sorry this is long