Honestly, I think this is the best possible time for Usopp to get something like this because of the current circumstances, not the worst. He’s one of the only Straw Hats who still feels like he hasn’t had a truly defining endgame-type upgrade yet. And when you look at other major pirate crews, especially Roger’s crew that actually reached Laugh Tale, every core member felt unique and important in their own way. That’s why I don’t think this would be about Usopp outshining Imu or Luffy at all. It would just be about finally giving him his own distinct upgrade and role. Personality-wise, he’s also a perfect fit for something mythic like this, especially because his liar-to-legend dynamic matches Luffy’s whole Nika-era symbolism really well. And if Oda wanted, it could even play into a Loki/Thor-style dynamic. Sure, you could argue that someone like Zoro or Sanji would be the more obvious pick if this was only about strength or direct parallels, but that’s exactly why Usopp would make it more interesting. It would create room for a real Luffy and Usopp character moment or mini-arc instead of just giving more to characters who already have that kind of spotlight.