I also just finished watching this, and it’s a great edit. The opening of each film is a bit rushed to me, but each film flows well from that point and at no point did I miss the nixed side plots. I also agree that Azog would be better if saved for the end, and there are some more scenes such as Bard’s dragonslaying scene and the lighting of the forges that could use more cutting, but very serviceable indeed.

JEDIT: Thinking back on the fanedit this morning, it came as a literal shock that Radagast, Sauruman, and Galadriel were eliminated from the film with almost zero issues. I had completely forgotten that they were in the Jackson versions.

There is one small issue that arises because of their deletion, which is simply that no reason is given for Gandalf leaving the party when they leave Rivendell. In the goblin tunnels, he then magically reappears. But it’s a small thing that doesn’t take me out of the experience too much.