Yes. ES File Explorer is the best. I only resort to these material file explorers when installing any APK as newer Android versions have restricted APK installation from ES File Explorer.
Material UI file explorers have too much wasted screen space and unnecessary slow animations, lack of bottom positioned controls etc. and it makes managing files slow and frustrating.
I use the system one for installing APKs. otherwise totally agreed, these newer ones cater to the new demographics but they sacrifice a lot of usability.
I read a campus-wide study carried by a university. It showed new students don't know about such things as files and folders, they just think their computers (think smartphones) are just a dump of files. So I guessfunctional file managers aren't a priority anymore.
Material UI file explorers have too much wasted screen space and unnecessary slow animations, lack of bottom positioned controls etc. and it makes managing files slow and frustrating.