I don't know why they don't do ALL of those cover page stories. I know they did like the first two, and okay, those were shitty episodes, but you'd think they'd be desperate enough for manga material they don't have to write themselves that they'd grab any story thread they could to make a few episodes out of.

Even if they'd just waited until an appropriate time to tell that stuff as a flash back, like when the crew meets up with Hachi, have Hachi tell the story of how he came to be a stand owner. Or right before the battle between Ace and Blackbeard, have an episode where Ace is telling someone in the bar about his hunt for Blackbeard.