You can nitpick all you want to give a lower score to this series; but in the end, compared to what the anime industry is putting out, this show is just leagues better - 16 years old and it STILL is better than 99% of the crap that gets aired every year, and it's not even close.
Plot:
People seem to be bothered that there's no overarching "plot" to this series, two points on that. First, why would it have one? A former gang member and cop get together to make money, they're not out looking for the galactic leyline - they just need money to eat and pay bills. Second, a "plot" in anime is really just an overall goal assigned to the main character while they actually just undergo story arcs; so the only difference between Cowboy Bebop and series with a "plot" is that they didn't assign a vague goal to the MC - which is fine since this series has more character development and interesting storylines in its 1-2 episode arcs than most series do over an entire season.
Characters:
This show is all about subtlety; it leaves lots of things unsaid, much like in real life - which is one reason why some feel it is all about style, it isn't. There is just so much more to the lead characters than their appearance leads you to believe, they feel human - something I just cannot say about any other anime, characters are either archetype cardboard cutouts or just so over the top that they don't feel real.
As a small shallow example: the lead is very much OP yet he still gets his ass handed to several times throughout the series, it makes him more credible as a human whereas other MCs either never lose or lose only to learn a lesson that will make them stronger so that they win next time, neither of those cases feel like actual human beings.
The only disappointments are the antagonists, they just seem evil for no particular reason.
Oh and the visuals and soundtrack aren't bad either in case you haven't heard.
