In general, I think if your looking for a fun and fulfilling way to kill some time while not taking things too seriously or maybe become involved with a good online community, RS3 is the way to go. Compared to OSRS is your thing to do, if your looking for OSRS gold a sense of accomplishment from the time you've spent online. If you're searching for RuneScape with longevity though, I'd propose RS3, despite it's own bunch of issues and regardless of what OSRS players will inform you, and want to believe themselves, OSRS isn't heading in a good direction long term. Community shrewd, with the toxicity of the community and the absolute resistance to anything that contrasts with their nostalgia, Jagex will eventually have to choose between pleasing it is old player base and keeping their player base altogether.
Why is RuneScape great for me personally is dueling someone on the Wilderness or searching other players. PvM and skilling is absolute shit of the time. You will find things like raids and particular managers that can be fun but I don't think they warrant the huge number of hours you gotta sit in your pc to grind. I don't think RuneScape is great once you need some kind of distraction to keep your focus away from the boredom which may be a slayer job, fishing, agility, etc. I get that some people may enjoy low attempt activities but at the exact same time, it's also a videogame, I do not understand how game developers aprove of articles which makes players look away from the screen. I don't think I can ever describe any game I've ever played as something"I do to the side" it almost sounds like a part-time occupation.
Same is true for PvM, before you reach the tail-end of it, you'll fight monsters exactly the same manner for hours and hours. People today consider development as"numbers going up" but it lacks a whole lot of depth in like 80% of it. Additionally, it is a encounter. If you're skilling for training or resources battle at certain areas it is almost like you want to avoid running into gamers because they might get in the way of your practice. I've met plenty of people but it's always the same, possibly one conversation and I will never talk to them, CCs constantly discuss exactly the same things too. I will guess according to your name you made an account simply to vent about RuneScape. It's ok, I've been there also.
I really like how osrs is a sandbox mmo in contrast to the traditional theme park mmo. I choose my avenues and work towards my own goals wether it's to grind a skill for a particular journal or a quest released 10 years ago with a good reward. I can leave and pick up RuneScape in 1 year old and Old School RuneScape Gold I wont have to play catch up since I missed a ton of dailies or my equipment isnt considered obsolete and shit since I missed two new dungeons or raids. I usually dislike mmos, particularly theme park mmos since I dont need to deal with them just like a second job/a job to maintain myself relevant. There is also no sentimental significance to plenty of the items because I understand they are gonna become outdated in the upcoming big patch. In osrs I can obtain an infernal cape and use that shit with pride since it has been one of, if not the very prestigious item in RuneScape for 3 years. Give me a mythical item in WoW and it'll become obsolete in the next raid.