It took some time to find its voice but when it did it became so amazing. You’re right there won’t ever be something like it. DS9 was sophisticated and nuanced.
Just compare it to modern Star Trek. In DS9 when the characters learn about Section 31 it’s a multi episode story and several characters almost go crazy from the realisation of what that actually means for the Federation.
In Discovery, everyone knows about Section 31. It’s a bunch of special ops badasses that interfere in sovereign societies’ politics and that’s A okay.