Why do I feel this way about Madoka Magica?

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is an anime that is a masterpiece for some people, and "It was good but there was nothing particularly great about it" anime for some other people. Therefore, I don't expect everyone to relate to my experience to begin with. I can also see where the people who give a criticism that its characters are shallow are coming from, although I couldn't agree with that. However...

When I finished watching Madoka, I was in awe. I couldn't believe how immaculately crafted it was. Normally, I appreciate an anime not based on the number of flaws, but based on whether the story does something special. I like an ambitious but imperfect story much more than a less ambitious but perfect story, as long as the former doesn't fumble too hard. But Madoka was different.

Frankly put, in my 2026 eyes, I can't say that Madoka has such an out-of-this-world creative story. Its plot twists are not that shocking anymore, and I gotta admit that the story doesn't take its world to somewhere very far. Despite all that, Madoka managed to impress me solely with its quality. Since that has never happened to me before, I'm trying to grasp what was so special about this anime to me, but I can't grasp a word for it.

Now, I don't enjoy bashing on other animes, but please forgive me because this post really needs an example. When I think of an anime that is in the direction of "less ambition, more perfection", the first thing that comes to my mind is Fullmetal Archemist: Brotherhood. But my experience with this anime was very different from that with Madoka. I could see that it was really well-executed, but I couldn't get impressed. None of its characters, themes, plot development, worldbuilding, and even the conclusion left an impact on me. While Madoka can make me go lost in thought analyzing the structure of its story, FMA:B failed to make me do that.

The thing is, I can't find a logical explanation for why I'm having such different experiences for these two animes. (a) Is it because Madoka is "darker"? No. FMA:B isn't a butterfly-and-flowers show either, and it can't explain why I prefer Avatar: The Last Airbender to FMA:B (b) Is it because Madoka's pacing is better? Not quite. I can separate the pacing issues from the content. (c) Is it because Madoka's unique visuals? Well, its visual storytelling is certainly a strength, but I don't really like shows that rely too much on symbolism to tell a story. That's the sole reason I prefer the TVA to Rebellion.

I know some (many, actually) of you probably felt otherwise. I can predict that there would be more people who thought FMA:B incredible and Madoka kinda meh than the other way around. But if you are one of those few who can relate to me, please help me reason about my experience better. Thank you.