More popular doesn't necessarily mean best. Sometimes it does but not always. P5 is the most popular but not the best in the series.
Transformers 1986 Film is better than the 2007 film but not as popular. Final Fantasy VI is the best in the series (my fave is IX) but VII is the most popular. Popularity often has to do with timing and how easy it's accessed.
Persona 4 Golden has better characters and a stronger story than P5. I was not a fan of how P5 made its dungeons broken up. TMS dungeons felt themed like Persona but were fixed and each had a unique and fun puzzle element to them. I much preferred that. P5 had great music and style. I also felt the subway was tacked on for those wanting more classic Persona dungeons. I feel the game should have either removed that or made it entirely optional. Going in a P5 dungeon only partway through each time to tell you, nope got to stop here do a bunch of other stuff, really disrupted the pacing. Made it drag longer than it needed to.
I will say it again and again. I really liked Persona 5 but it could have fixed some things. I will ignore any dismissive post with a useless gif or snarky remark.
Bite my shiny metal cockpit!
