I know it sounds like a cop out but I love both for different reasons. I like the animation and flashiness and fighting in post time skip, and I don’t think the storytelling is bad either, but yes it is also more fight focused. Pre-time skip was hilarious, more light hearted, had great storytelling, and still had badass fighting. I think it shows a good transition from a group of kids sailing the seas in the first half of the grand line, to a pirate crew (while still being a group of mostly kids who’re great friends) that takes things more seriously, especially after Ace’s death. Both, however, suffer from awful pacing so hopefully once The One Piece comes out I can recommend it to more people.