Many things could have been worst,but that doesn't help the plot does it?I never expect Don Flamingo to make a great damage to Smoker at that point,Oda implies that those two(Smoker and Tashigi) will appear and help the strawhats in the future again.i said, it could have been worst
As for the liking part,no I don't like Don Flamingo he is crazy on a stupid way which I dislike.