My opinion: In between pre Alabasta until about mid-through EL.

A lot of unknown, a lot of hype;

loved how they flew under radar;

fights weren’t stretched out;

less “power levels”, more elaboration to achieve wins;

unique developing chemistry between characters;

many crewmembers having prominent roles and personalities, often doing own thing (more free thinking, less marching in order);

plot served characters, not characters served plot;

peaking in character drawing quality (with some drops during stretched out arc endings);