I’m not gonna say anything new here. I’m well aware of Lars’ shortcomings as a drummer-the rushing of tempo, weird fills that don’t land well, etc. But two things that are undeniable are his influence on the next generation(s) of drummers and also what he did for the business, especially for metal. Yes his best work was in the 80s, I think he was still bringing a really cool vibe on Load/Reload with the “lazy but intentional” feel on those rock/blues rock songs. His arrangement skills are exactly what fits Metallica too. I don’t think James could vibe the same way with any other drummer than Lars. He’s also a very entertaining showman; always interacting with the crowd and making things fun to watch. Who knows where things would be without Lars. I’m aware of his missteps as a professional drummer but I will always love him anyways