u/Defiant-Profile-4722

Yes it's transitional. Yes Law steals focus from Luffy. But it introduced Caesar Clown — one of the best minor villains in the series — set up SMILE fruits, Kaido's entire operation, and Doflamingo's web. It also gave us the best Luffy/Law dynamic in the series before it was ruined by overexposure. Punk Hazard is the most efficient setup arc Oda has ever written. The payoff was Dressrosa and Wano. The foundation was worth it.