The pacing issues IMO are more how the story moves along at a glacial pace, then 75% through infodumps on you and expects you to follow along through a half doz

The pacing issues IMO are more how the story moves along at a glacial pace, then 75% through infodumps on you and expects you to follow along through a half dozen futurist topics mashed together at the end. The exposition episodes would be fine if they were better translated. I still think the show is worth watching despite those issues. It's easily my favorite anime series (also agree that 2nd Gig is the better half of the show; they're only separated because of how anime was funded in blocks of 26 episodes in the early 2000s).