Northern Verve
I can definitely understand you that comparisons on a quality standpoint are too soon.
G4 has a decade of material so it’s natural that the majority opinion is likely going to be that G4 is still better just based on the fact more people have seen it (Having been widely available in the early days when you could still get MLP episodes for free on Youtube where as the G5 movie is Netflix exclusive even if course there is pirating options for those without a Netflix account that really want to see it). This is an objective view on popularity even if someone did a more fair comparison by only comparing the G5 movie to the G4 two-part pilot and you come out with the opinion that the G5 movie’s way of beginning the series was better. More people have likely seen the G4 pilot then they have the G5 movie. Whether someone thinks the G5 movie is better or not then the pilot. The G4 pilot probably has a fair amount of more popularity. So most people are going to prefer G4
And when you get to considering the entirety of G4, it has peaks that G5 will have an uphill battle to match. And we’re not sure if it’s even an obtainable peak because part of FiM’s popularity was real lightning in a bottle stuff. The shock of a pony show actually having decently well-written and lovable characters plus a giant fantasy sandbox for all kinds of fandom material is part of what got it’s largest spikes. While with G5 since G4 existed, it’s no longer a surprise that an MLP thing has quality to it. Or looking at like this from the perspective of someone from a casual standpoint, back when G4 was new it was like “Pony show = good? Whoa! I better check out why this is all over the internet!” but now it’s like “Pony movie = good? Well… so was the previous show that ran for a decade.” The surprise good quality of a MLP-related media factor is gone, and thus might not bring as many curious eyes to it as G4 did.
And anyone who argues that G5 is already better has either a rather narrow view and/or became heavily jaded towards G4 for one reason or another. Because we only have one movie and the reasons for saying anything’s better then G4 might be speaking too soon. Such as the whole “Mane 6 eventually got flanderized, therefore they are less then the G5’s Mane 5 because we saw mostly their pro’s outside of Pipp (of which we saw more cons then pros. Or at least not enough screentime to really show off those pros) and Hitch (Who perhaps had the most balance of the 5)”. There’ll probably eventually be a time if G5 lasts as long as G4, that the Main 5 get exaggerated in some episodes or have an episode that doubles down on their flaws just like the G4 ponies had. So there’s alot that’s very premature at the moment.
So yeah, quality-wise depending which side you’re arguing for. If you prefer G4, it’s an unfair comparison for one movie to compare to a decade of media with an unobtainable peak even if G5 hits a good stride. And if you prefer G5 it’s too soon to not think that whatever flaws of G4 won’t happen again eventually for G5.
Though in an ironic sense, G5 itself is probably going to be on “G4’s side” on an in-universe sense of the argument since it’s going to (And basically already has) refer to G4 as if it was the good ol’ days. So it might be a little funny how those who prefer G5 will be all like “G4 had so many flaws, it really went downhill after (insert whichever fandom splitting moment is mentioned)” where as G5 itself is likely going to go like “It was a time where everything was perfect! :D”