@Daz:
…
As someone who grew tired of OP attempts to make you HYPE, I relate a lot with this feeling. But this chapter still managed to get me excited for completely different reasons. Fuck the bounties, but I loved Franky angry about them and Usopp being afraid and excited at the same time. Fuck the big names and the WAR OF THRONES, but I loved seeing Doflamingo again and the way he and Tsuru acted near each other. And I loved the Barto Club, their ship, Barto showing no sign of respect towards Law, the good old light hearted humor! And the autographs, and the fact a group that I loved might come back anytime now, the possibility of SH being developed (or trolled, as long as it is Sanji I would love it both ways)…
I love OP world building and the overall plot, but Oda attempts to make things seem epic just pass right through me. Still, this chapter had so much everything else that this didn't bother me. So while I agree with each one of your points, the chapter worked perfectly with me for completely different reasons.
The only point I disagree with is Bellamy, though. I hate to admit, but I was SO pleased by what this chapter did to him. "Oh, he was in the party all the time, I just forgot to draw him last time... sorry. And there he goes away in just one panel without any goodbye or reaction from Luffy NOW LOOK AT THE COMMANDERS THEY SO COOL!". I was really annoyed by the whole "Bellamy is a very important character, you will see", so this was just perfection to me.
p.s.: I don't get Doflamingo, though. So the fact he was imprisoned led to the New Era he wanted to see? So why he was providing all those things then? Wasn't it like preventing the exact thing he wanted from becoming reality? Oh well, I guess it's too early to have this answers.