I'm fine with isekai stories. They have purpose, they have a role in the "ecosystem" of storytelling.
But purpose is the keyword there. They need one. And not just tangentially. Like, to use the Quartet:
Overlord doesn't need to be an Isekai, or at least, a double-isekai. Re:Zero doesn't need to be an isekai. KonoSuba does need to be an isekai. Youjo Senki does need to be an isekai. You can have a tale of a misplaced lichlord without needing him to be a teenage gamer, he was isekai'd twice after all. You can have a hopeless, reviving, witch-"blessed" romantic without needing ten introductory seconds of "so I was at a convenience store". But Kazuma uses his Earthly knowledge to his advantage, and the fact others also isekai'd there shaped literally the entire setting from ancient history to present. And Tanya uses Earthly knowledge all the time, her application of modern morals in war is why she has the title "The Evil".
Digimon the isekai makes sense. There are NO humans there, their existence disrupts the world in notable ways. Inuyasha the isekai makes sense, both worlds play active roles in the plot. Hamefura: The entire plot is made by the MC trying to actively derail that very plot.
On the other extremes... Interspecies Reviewers is technically an isekai anime. But no named character is an isekai'd character, they just exist in the background lore. The sole reason it's an isekai, is to mock our world. Not really needed, but it is a comedy series so leniency. And the other opposite extreme, some people call Goblin Slayer an isekai anime. It has the walled town with the adventuring guild and the river going two-thirds past center through it. Characters have random OP powers, and arbitrary guild ranks, and the MC is powerful because he does SCIENCE! ...Not an isekai. Didn't need to be. Fits the mould PERFECTLY... And isn't. Wonderful. Amazing. Deserves more viewers just for that trait alone.
I'm fine with isekai stories. They have purpose, they have a role in the "ecosystem" of storytelling.
But purpose is the keyword there. They need one. And not just tangentially. Like, to use the Quartet:
Overlord doesn't need to be an Isekai, or at least, a double-isekai. Re:Zero doesn't need to be an isekai. KonoSuba does need to be an isekai. Youjo Senki does need to be an isekai. You can have a tale of a misplaced lichlord without needing him to be a teenage gamer, he was isekai'd twice after all. You can have a hopeless, reviving, witch-"blessed" romantic without needing ten introductory seconds of "so I was at a convenience store". But Kazuma uses his Earthly knowledge to his advantage, and the fact others also isekai'd there shaped literally the entire setting from ancient history to present. And Tanya uses Earthly knowledge all the time, her application of modern morals in war is why she has the title "The Evil".
Digimon the isekai makes sense. There are NO humans there, their existence disrupts the world in notable ways. Inuyasha the isekai makes sense, both worlds play active roles in the plot. Hamefura: The entire plot is made by the MC trying to actively derail that very plot.
On the other extremes... Interspecies Reviewers is technically an isekai anime. But no named character is an isekai'd character, they just exist in the background lore. The sole reason it's an isekai, is to mock our world. Not really needed, but it is a comedy series so leniency. And the other opposite extreme, some people call Goblin Slayer an isekai anime. It has the walled town with the adventuring guild and the river going two-thirds past center through it. Characters have random OP powers, and arbitrary guild ranks, and the MC is powerful because he does SCIENCE! ...Not an isekai. Didn't need to be. Fits the mould PERFECTLY... And isn't. Wonderful. Amazing. Deserves more viewers just for that trait alone.