I don't think that me and you, HeartofDarkness have that much of a disagreement in perspective.
Rather than bashing and firing on all cylinders maybe, just maybe you can consider that being successful in the industry is something worthy of respect by itself?
Maybe when someone opens their manga or flip a book, they are not exactly going through this list of "masterful story telling 101" before deciding to continue and turn the page.
Not at any point did I even say one series is better than another in my post, all I did was gave credit where it was due but for some reason I got jumped on that and was used as a springboard for a rant.
Look, you have your criteria for good story writing and I feel like I would actually agree with some of them.
I'm not attacking or questioning what your definition of a great work is because you didn't come here praising Bleach or Ft for their writing capabilities.
And neither did I.
Dude, I'm like at the top of the list for the people who constantly comes back here and shit on Bleach.
It scarred me precisely because I used to love it so much.
The manga industry, like any other entertainment industry, is also a business model.
Not everyone that walks into this industry is going to be the next Shakespeare, Miura or Toriyama.
But there are certain aspects of their series that draws people in, that make people like it a lot even if it is flawed.
Maybe go read Bakuman or something and understand why having and knowing your audience is so important, I don't know.
Mashima had so many more lows than highs with FT, but there was definitely something that still draws the readers back and that enjoyment makes the terrible writing/illogical moments bearable.
So he must be doing something right and did something right at one point.
Stop treating everyone else that doesn't enjoy your "pinnacle" of literature as peasants devoid of critical thinking and maybe respect the other series for what they have done right to reach popularity.
Your phrase of copying and executing in the most generic and lazy way doesn't really apply for this two series we are talking about.
Mashima does double chapters, worked his ass off and constantly filled his series with great backgrounds.
Kubo is lazy(I'm not even going to argue this) but and yes talking with you I don't even know whether I'm being subjective or if this is an objective point, but I believe he have great character design and is at times M Night Shamalan of Shounen.
Even when he knows he could take the easy route and his series and characters can be capitalize on, dude still chooses to write his oh I'm so smart twists.
I truly hope you're not discounting all that and even thought they don't balance the scale, it is honest effort and something that as their reader for years, I can find inspiration in.
Your "checklist" for an enjoyable story is also everchanging. As you get exposed to more media, your stance itself will change and you'll start to perhaps believe that the series that you have read in the past..might not be that worthy of that best story title in your mind.
Maybe you'll understand more aspects of culture, of history, that you might have missed and dismissed and only get a better appreciation with more understanding.
That's why it is dangerous to peg your standards onto others without truly understanding why people enjoy the entertainment and medium that they do.
E.g: I hated Naruto late second half and how the author took an obvious stance , prioritizing familial values into his story that affect the overall quality.
However, maybe at a different stage of my life and with a greater understanding of the importance of familial values and the Japanese culture will I be able to understand why despite the bad writing of the fourth ninja war, was the series still so revered in Japan.
@PatTraverse maybe keep the personal attacks and baiting out of your posts and actually reply properly and you can have an actual discussion.