I think we can all agree that Zoro has lacked challenge. Both physically and mentally since the timeskip. I maintain that he hasn't regressed or become less likeable, rather he's been stagnant and unmoving. You even see it in his fighting style. Most of what he uses in battle are just powered up versions of his old moves.
This sense of stagnation perpetuated when he and a bunch of the other Strawhats went absent for 2 years real-time. It looked promising when Oda linked a hatred for Orochi and bond with Yasu, but that appears to have subsided. I like to think it will be followed up on, but I just get this feeling like all that happened was just to give Zoro a new sword. Now that it's settled, he can take a backseat until his obligatory arc fight.
This sense of stagnation perpetuated when he and a bunch of the other Strawhats went absent for 2 years real-time. It looked promising when Oda linked a hatred for Orochi and bond with Yasu, but that appears to have subsided. I like to think it will be followed up on, but I just get this feeling like all that happened was just to give Zoro a new sword. Now that it's settled, he can take a backseat until his obligatory arc fight.