I hear early PF as the making of puzzle pieces. The pieces start coming together on Meddle then perfected on DSOTM and after. Echos is my fav PF song. Its like a changing landscape. D.G. & R.W. vocal harmonys blend perfectly. The music starts mellow, builds to a crescendo, then eases to a mellow ending.
My earliest fav is"More". Another showcase of their early development.
Seems like whole concept album listening faded in the 1980s as post baby boomers seemed to move toward the popish sounds and single track listening.
I believe PF was one of the most creative prog bands and Sid was a huge influance on their style.