Does anyone actually enjoy the Vaal chapter, maps, and monsters?

Act 1 and Act 2 feel great — they’re dark, have a solid story, interesting monsters, and easily the best map designs in the game.
But since launch, Act 3 has always been the most annoying part for me, especially the second half when it shifts to the Vaal-themed maps and monsters.
I’m not trying to hate, but the map layouts are bad, the monsters are ugly (I wish we had more demon-like enemies — machines just aren’t fun at all for me), and the story falls flat. I honestly think it could be replaced with something better.
I know they put a lot of work into Act 3, but maybe they could use that same effort to rework and adjust things — keep it similar in structure, but completely change everything related to the Vaal.
If they’re planning to remake the Trial of Sekhema, I really hope they consider reworking Act 3 too.

I can’t be the only one who feels kinda sad playing through Act 3 with no fun at all.

I do. Most of my remaining issues with Act 3 are in the first half.

Not sure how the later Act 3 monsters are "ugly" but the numerous Act 2 monsters that were clearly made very early on and basically look like they came from PoE 1, like those big goofy skeletons, are fine.

I like act 1 the best and 2 and 3 are sorta tied.

Act 3 story is the most intriguing to me. mostly for what it sets up to happen later on with Atziri communing with the beast, shifting from chaos worship to worshipping the corruption, maybe a dance party, etc.

Acts 1 and 2 story is cool, but they both boil down to 'act boss simps for Oriana, Oriana abandons them as they face death, princess is now in another castle...'

As for the enemies, I like having a mix. Theres already so many demons in poe (breach, delirium, beyond/scourge, etc) and arpgs in general.

The water drainage map is simply far too underwhelming for what it may be attempting to be (some kind of rush scenario??).

My big 2 problems with Act III are:

- Its not as "warming" as Act I or II because of a multitude of things, fiddly maps, too many biomes, more quests...it just feels a bit unsettling, especially at the point of where you're overthinking about your characters direction + even stronger loot than Act II + Support Gems Lv 2.

- I really don't like the Act III town and forced NPC importance of Alva, this Act feels like Act IV and I would like Act III instead to be a meaningful pathway to the temples of the ancients from Act II and other NPC's to be talking about Alva and I'm led up to her organically. In short Act II > III feels pretty thrusted upon you.

Yes