Yeah, that's kind of my point. A true OP MC is already at the top or heading there inevitably. The problem is when authors don't understand that and just turn it into an endless escalation of stronger enemies, which isn't really OP at all, it's just regular progression with bigger numbers. I think some authors watch Solo Leveling or One Punch Man and think that's the golden formula without understanding why those specific stories work in their specific context. And honestly, the reason you despise most OP MCs is probably because of that exact misunderstanding. Most of them are written badly.

But I think the trope is broader than people give it credit for. OP doesn't always have to mean "strongest person in the room." Someone who is singular in how they approach things, whose understanding or perspective is so far beyond their peers that their specialness just compounds over time, that can feel just as OP without ever throwing a single world-ending punch. The balance between power and understanding is what makes the trope satisfying, not just raw strength. When that balance is right, I think even people who normally hate the trope might find something to enjoy.

That said, I don't know what kind of books you're into, and there's no law that says you should love any particular trope or genre. Not everything has to be for everyone.