As others said, likes and dislikes are very personal. I could talk for quite a time about what I perceive as flaws and strenghts in SB, but to be short, I'll just point out what comes to my mind right now as most enjoyable:
Story arcs:
The Four Lords (I loved everything about it).
Gosetsu and Yotsuyu.
The Butcher.
Zones:
All the Far East ones: Ruby Sea, Kugane, Yanxia, Azim Steppe.
Characters:
Hien (I really liked his mixture of irony, thoughtfulness, honesty and optimism. All in all, a very solid and versatile character).
Gosetsu (very easy to emphatize with).
Magnai (he cracked me up).
Sadu (she cracked me up too).
The Butcher (well written character, with good entrances and exits).
Everyone that you later encounter in the Doman Enclave Reconstruction (the finished Doman Enclave is one of my top favorite places in the whole game).
Zenos' father (who suddenly gains some depth).
Tribe quests:
The Kojin storyline.
If I remember well, I enjoyed also all the job solo duties, but I usually do everywhere.
Extras:
Rathalos.
And of course, Hildibrand. His arc ends in Kugane, and I can't wait to see him, Godbert, Greg, Nashu and the whole gang reappear in ShB.
I probably forget a ton of other things I enjoyed, but hey, I have a goldfish memory![]()