I've also found that I prefer the "slower" anisongs (I don't know how to better describe it, but not quite "super hype" anisongs, nor really slow ones. Somewhere in the middle). Build-up is generally important for me, and I find that the chorus is often the weakest part of the OP/ED for me lol

Yeah, I get what you mean by slower, and with build—I guess this OP is an example of that. I think hype OPs maybe have it slightly easier, from an audience appeal standpoint—you can absolutely have interesting and meaningful direction, but you can ride the hype a little.