If Super Mario Bros 3 had as many lives as New Super Mario 2, it would still be a far more difficult game. It is not difficult to get 99 lives in SMB3, but it is difficult to pass many of the levels. The only NSMB2 level that I found difficult was the final bowser rights at the end of the regular game, and a the end of Star Road.
My big problem with the game was the lower diversity, and the fact that not really any levels stood out a great deal. Super Mario Bros 3, for example, is made up almost completely of memorable levels. I can picture just about every level in my head because each one has its unique quirks. NSMB2 does not have many of these (there's the level with the upper and lower path as mini Mario, and that's about the only one I can think of).
Also the world maps (and presentation in general) were WAY more interesting in Mario 3 and world.
I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.
