Opinion about Super Saiyan 3 and 4

I think Toriyama originally intended for SSJ3 to be a hybrid SSJ/Oozaru because one of his original sketches of SSJ3 Goku had a tail:


It could also explain those weird ape/neanderthal-looking eyebrows. I liked the design of SSJ3 and SSJ4 (if it was blonde!) but would've preferred if SSJ2 was the final transformation. During the Buu saga was when Goku numbered the SSJ forms which opened the door to even more unnecessary numbered transformations. If there wasn't a SSJ3, SSJ2 would've remained "Ascended SSJ" or "True Ascended SSJ" so fans don't get mixed up with the form Vegeta used against Semi-Perfect Cell. Like Ashanark said, SSJ3 didn't really accomplish anything and all it did inflate the power levels. Fat Buu was stronger than SSJ2 Vegeta then Goku reveals SSJ3 and starts beating up Buu then everyone after that needed to be stronger. At least if SSJ2 was the final transformation, Gotenks would just be a strong fusion SSJ2 and Ultimate Gohan would his full SSJ2 potential or maybe they wouldn't even need it.

I think only purpose that SSJ3 served was showing Vegeta that Goku was way stronger than him so he could give his "You are #1" speech. I believe that could've also been accomplished with SSJ2. The normal SSJ2 could've been treated as a difficult to control, primal rage form like when Gohan first achieved it. Vegeta would eventually have more control over it by the Buu saga but he would still be weaker than Goku who fully mastered the form and overcome it's rage. By the end that could cause Vegeta to wonder how Goku was able to overcome it and not give in which leads to his speech. It's basically the same thing that happened in canon but replace SSJ3 with a "FP"SSJ2 that only Goku acquires. I would have SSJ2 Gotenks weaker than Goku and take away Gohan's ultimate form. It would make Vegeta saying Goku was #1 more meaningful if he actually was the strongest and not "you are #1...not including the half-Saiyans".