On one hand i agree that it could have been shorter but I wouldn't necessarily define it as filler. If it was just about VP i would absolutely agree it should have been Zou sized. But then he made it about Bonney, and Kuma, and Kizaru, and Saturn, and then 4 other Gorosei and then Joyboy lol.
The way i expected the arc to go was exactly how I thought it was teased, a battle arc with primarily Marines. Oda hasnt actually given Marines a true arc where they are fought by Luffy's crew.
So its weird to me that what was shown here didnt actually play out properly. Of the 9 VAs shown, 6 were fodderized. 3 of them didnt actually do literally anything in the arc and we never actually saw them the rest of it. Then we all know what happened to Kizaru....who is still fine lol.
Its like a weird combo of filler and actually wrapping up storylines. If these 10 Marines actually got fights and wrapped up, lets say, 15 more chapters, it would have felt worth it.
And dont even get me started on the Seraphim and Gorosei lol. Even CP0 being here was weird outside of Stussy's revelation being a Rocks pirate clone (who's now fucking MIA lol)