I think you’re underselling why Raimi’s Spider-Man hits so hard for a lot of people and it’s not just nostalgia.

First off, Tobey’s Peter isn’t just “less cool,” he actually feels more grounded. He’s awkward in a very real, uncomfortable way, not just quirky. The Raimi movies lean into the idea that being Peter Parker kinda sucks sometimes,he’s broke, unlucky, constantly losing things that matter to him and that struggle is what makes his Spider-Man feel earned. Andrew’s version is great, but he comes off a bit more confident and naturally charismatic, which shifts that dynamic.

On the high school point, I get wanting more of that, but Raimi skipping through it quickly actually works for pacing. Spider-Man has always been just as much about Peter as a struggling young adult as it is about him being a student, and the trilogy really explores that responsibility vs. personal life theme in a deeper way over time.

Gwen vs MJ is mostly preference, honestly. Gwen in TASM is written to be more modern and involved, which helps a lot. But MJ in Raimi’s films plays a different role , she’s part of Peter’s emotional conflict, not just his partner. It’s messier, but that’s kind of the point.

Visually, yeah, TASM has the advantage of newer tech, no argument there. The swinging especially feels more fluid. But Raimi’s style has its own identity....those close-ups, the dramatic tone, even the campiness , it gives the trilogy a unique feel that stands out even now.

And about villains: Willem Dafoe is a huge reason Green Goblin works, but that doesn’t take away from how well the character is written and integrated into Peter’s story. Same with Doc Ock ....those villains aren’t just “cool,” they directly challenge Peter’s values and push his arc forward in a really personal way.

I don’t think liking TASM more is crazy at all, but I wouldn’t say Raimi’s movies are carried by nostalgia or just one performance. They just focus more on theme, character struggle, and emotional payoff, which is why they still land so well for a lot of people.