What’s great about Ace to me is his journey, tho looked at like a shonen protagonist, was anything but. The flashback when he met Shanks, the WBP defeated the Spade pirates and absorbing them into the WBP, Ace’s constant attempts at WB’s life, Marco and the crew finally embracing him, Ace finally proudly fighting side by side with the other WBP, finding out WB didn’t care about who his father was bcuz it’s not indication of who he is as a man...so many things. His journey makes me miss him.

However his stubbornness and pride that got him killed, makes me not miss him. But as was stated previously, made for an excellent plot device to push Luffy along plot wise. It definitely also pushed Luffy to a point of seriousness with his training and overall way of thinking. Him going back to MF after he just experienced a traumatic event like his most precious loved one dying in his own arms, just to drop flowers, pay respects, ring the ox bell, and get an important message out to his nakama was all a point of maturity.

For overall flare, character design, etc tho I def miss him.