Sailor Moon Crystal

[Ishigami]

I know that Crystal is following the manga much more closely, but I feel like it's missing what made the original anime so memorable for a lot of fans. If this is what Sailor Moon had been like originally, I can honestly say I don't think I would have watched more than an episode or two.

Exactly this.
The reason SM was successful was not because of its overarching plot. It was because it followed the girls thru their lives in basically ?real time? dealing with issue teenager of the same age would probably go thru at the same time and this for several years.
It was therefore very relatable despite its fantasy overarching plot and took its time establishing and building its characters.
The remake misses this completely making it entirely pointless.