As a kid I thought it was totally epic everytime they used the zords and even morph, my favourite zord from that series was the Red Battlezord, didn't really grasp on to the plot but In Space will always be my overall favourite.
Same, I loved when they used to beam up into their zords, the shake of their wrist for morphers, and the materializing of the suits when they're morphing. That's when I truly felt the Power was being embraced in Power Rangers.
With space that's when everything changed for me..like the feeling. Space was our first tech season, the music changed, the FX got better, and the tone was more serious. I also felt the 90's go into the tech age at that time.
I LOVED space, thing is my parents where stingy and still never got me an Astro Morpher or Galaxy Morpher.
But for Christmas my mom got be a Blue Space Ranger action figure, and I'm sure he came with a motorcycle too. I almost fainted..
Like you with Zeo, I was like "Oooh Shiny!" and didn't really pay attention to the story. But when space came, I was like an army general and payed attention to everything.
That's when FoxKids was changing also, and started doing those 3D, robotic, new age type commercials.
MMS1 and some of 2 plus Zeo = Golden Age. I count Turbo too because I personally found it enjoyable.
Space to Lost Galaxy is Gold in it's own right.
Lightspeed to Wildforce was Silver.
and NS to RPM is Bronze. Though I love NS so it's part silver.