@Kdom:
For me, Oda's biggest failure with regard to Usopp post time skip is to have completely removed his arsenal and replaced it by those pop green which simply are not interesting. They are just a magical random ready made tools.
Usopp ingenior genius has been completely lost and it is a bit sad.
Countrary to many, I don't expect that he will become the bravest warior of the sea. So for me, it is just fine that he is a big coward that becomes brave when his friends are in danger.
I agree. Those pop greens are absolute shit. While I don't think that even Kabuto was the right way to go as it just gives him a weapon to fire stronger rounds rather than actually improving his seriously lacking sniping skills, at least it utilizes those aspect of sniping skills he already has developed well. However the pop greens often do some AOE damage rather than requiring pinpoint percision. It's like using a bazooka instead of a sniper rifle. He doesn't even need to hit an enemy. If something explodes next to them it's enough to cause damage. Also friggin' Boaty Banana. He pulls out his slinghot, fires a shot and suddenly a bananaboat appears. What the actual hell?
Anyways, because I know people will ask what I meant by seriously lacknig sniping skills. Did I not see how Usopp times and again can snipe things from a far distance? To that I say, that I have seen that and this aspect of sniping he is very good at. However that's not the only way to be good at sniping. This aspect pretty much focuses on enemies that are either not moving, moving only a little or moving in an easily readable and predictable line. Such as Spandam who was walking straight ahead on the Bridge of Hesitation. What Usopp so far has always sucked it, is actually locking on and hitting a target that is aware of him and tries to dodge him. Be it in movies, books or video games. Insane sniping skills are always shown in a manner where the one being targeted feels an oppressive presence and threat of the sniper (if they know there is one) because no matter what you do, which way you dodge, the chances are that the reactions are so insane high level that the sniper will keep locked on to the target. That's nothing Usopp has displayed so far.
For instance he couldn't lock on to Jabra. Yeah, he's using Soru to move fast and disappear. Only good fighters with a sharp eye like Luffy, Zoro and Sanji can keep up. But that's the thing, the one thing Usopp can have on par with those three if not even be better than them, is his eyesight. He doesn't have to be able to punch, slash or kick back like those three. But of all those three, he's the one with the supposedly good eyesight, why not have him actually see the CP9 agents when they are Soru-ing. But wait, there's even a worse display of hitting a target that "dodges": Absalom. Back when took Nami in front of them, Usopp was shooting at him and Absalom avoided the shot by turning invisible. I kid you not, in chapter 457 Absalom stands there holding Nami in his hands. Usopp shots at the clearly visible enemy. Then Absalom turns invisible and that leads to Usopp not hitting. What the actual hell? There's other examples but I cannot really remember from the top of my head.
The thing I'm saying here is not that this is universally a bad thing for Usopp. Actually the contrary. Still having things to learn about sniping and improve in the areas where he is not as good as in others, is actually a great opportunity for Oda to write some growth for his fighting abilities. But instead of doing that we focus on stupid gimmicky things that remove him even further from developing universally good sniping skills. Even the way how he "sniped" Sugar in Dressrosa falls victim to this. Yes, it showed some clever thinking and inventing from his side to get to an enemy he couldn't see in a straight line. But the thing I'm asking is, why can't Oda be creative with raw sniping skills in itself? Why does Usopp need the help of gadgets to shoot around the corner? Why not develop high level shooting skills where people can actually fire curved shots? I know, that sounds ridiculous at first. Until you realize we're talking about a story where characters literally can send flying slashes from normal swords. Why shouldn't high level sharpshooters be able to develop something like shots that can take a turn (like in the movie Wanted)? Heck, the scene I've referenced above with Usopp shooting at Absalom has Usopp actually shooting something like a curved shot. Most likely that was an effect of Kabuto too rather than being his sniping skill, but it still looked more like an actual shot than something that needs gadgets to change trajectory mid flight. Doesn't even have to be curved shots. How about bouncing bullets off of walls to create a ricochet shot? Just actually be good at shooting instead of using magic bullets to make up for your lack to shoot around the corner.
@Robby:
Jabra was set up as a guy that lied a lot and made up stories. And he was a wolf. (the boy cried). There were legit reasons to believe they'd face off after Oda put the in the same room. And then eventually delayed for many chapters by attaching Usopp to Zoro. . Obviously not in a direct physical confrontation, but Usopp running, settign up traps, making clever use of dials could have certainly taken it. His fight against Luffy showed exactly what he could do when he had his ind set on it… and his fight against Perona in the next arc was also all bluff and tricks. Heck, way back in the day he beat a fishman with really stupid items and it worked.
The second Jabra was confirmed to be close to Kaku in terms of battle power it was pretty much clear that he would be taking on Sanji. It was obvious back then and shouldn't even be argued nowadays. The entire wolf and lie thingy is completely something that people blew out of proportion to fit their narritive of Usopp magically developing into the badass they wanted him to be, even though nothing in the story ever indicated that there was justifyable reason for such a growth.
@desa:
I'm one the few that dont like the apology. First Usopp doesnt choose to apologize. He is forced to so he wont be abandonned which to me kill any sincerity and self reflection of the apology. If you do it under duress than that's your fear talking not regret. Second I consider Zoro clearly does what he's angry at Usopp for doing when he threaten to walk if the crew(including Luffy) doesnt do things the way he wants. Also Ennias Lobby happened where Usopp more than proved his worth and attachment to the crew and Zoro knows it. Third the confrontation happened because Luffy made light of the Merry importance(after he got angry in a similar way to Usopp with Kaku) while he was feeling after losing the money he told Luffy he didnt think he should carry(and Luffy promised he would protect him than bailed). Fourth If Luffy fought with Zoro over wanting to give away Kuina's sword or fought Nami wanting to get rid of the tangerines with no explanation I wouldnt expect them to have to grovel to Luffy later. I would expect Luffy to have to explain why its important and them mutually showing remorse.
Yes, he is forced into apologizing because just as in real life, sometimes people need a rough wake up call to make them realize that there's not always an easy way out. When one fucks up big time, then it's not the responsibility of others to forgive easily. It's nice when it happens but it cannot be taken for granted. And I'm happy that we went the route of him not getting the easy way out. If there's anything I don't like about the scene is, that he needed to be pushed rather than the first thing coming out of his mouth being an honest apology in the first place.
Also Luffy did not make light of Merry's importance. There was an entire build up for him that brought him to the conclusion that Water Seven is where they part with Merry. The only thing he did was presenting this in a blunt manner to Usopp, who missed the entire build up to it while he already is coping with feeling guilty for what happened and having the deepest connection with the ship. I do agree that even if someone accidentally hurts someone's feelings that doesn't obsolve them from the responsibility of apologizing, once they realize that they hurt someone. But Usopps reaction took the entire moment in a different direction by him deliberately confronting and insulting Luffy. Whatever Luffy said from that point onwards, might have also not been very diplomatic but as the captain he absolutely has the right to confront Usopp for his behaviour. Luffy for defending his decision.