I'm really interested in seeing why Oda delayed Jimbei again. I mean as far as I'm concerned(as well as the story) he is a part of the crew but we just want to see him permanently there with his own bed, a 9th Person chapter and interacting with the crew in their casual down time.
After Fishman Island:
1 - The Straw Hats would soon be fighting Doflamingo. Can't have 2 War Lords plus Luffy ganging up on another.
2 - The Straw Hats get a few arcs to prove themselves in the New World without Jimbei.
3 - Jimbei has ties to Big Mom and it was clear we were being set up to see her in a few arcs anyway.
That stuff I can reasonably understand. Though now after Whole Cake, I feel like Oda is setting up some kind of payoff that should have us pretty excited and jumping for joy when he does eventually return. Does that mean he shows up at the last second to save someone from seemingly-certain-Oda-death? Or might he have some kind of adventure on his own that would have some cool affect on the rest of the story?
Jimbei's cover page did bring us Wadatsumi and a Poneglyph and I doubt it will contain irrelevant information when Robin gets to read it. I'm just trying to imagine what is going to happen to the Straw Hats where its preferable to leave Jimbei out it initially and/or what he could do on his own that would have significant results for the main plot.
I know we like to think of the Fishmen & Mermen as a people who don't need silly boats to get around the ocean and in some cases its true. Hatchi traveling alone, Jimbei ready to carry Luffy(at least partially) to Saboady but most of the time they need a place to store their belongings and rest along the way while not being forced into the elements. I guess I'm trying to say that I don't think the Sun Pirates are just going to swim to Wano. I'm betting on Germa giving them a lift with the possibility of the entire group heading to the Reverie with Gastino in tow.
What future story reasons do you guys think kept Jimbei behind once more?