Kubo really never gave a single fuck about his critics.
Oda does not care.
Do you think an author that cares about critics would make Gear 5 +1000 chapters into the series? Don't think so.
Oda does not give a fk, he writes what he feels like. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing, that's up to you to decide, but Oda clearly does not get influenced by outside factors nor does he care to argue with them-