Is Final Cut or Momentary Lapse of Reason best?

I hated it when I bought it years ago...and I hate it now.

Everyone will probably get mad at me for saying this:
After putting out such a bad album, Waters just had to go, so Pink Floyd's reputation as one of the best bands ever did not get ruined, as it would have if Waters had stayed and forced the band to release more of that crap.

At least MLOR has some good moments in it... TFC is dull from beginning to end.

Roger had no intention of recording another Pink Floyd album after The Final Cut. Had he stayed in the band, he would have continued to actively oppose all further activities in Pink Floyd as he did up until 1985.

So... the final cut

Waters did The Final Cut because the other members were "creatively spent."
Credit Waters for still doing the job of a musician and artist. I dont suppose you recall or read Mason's book, but the record company was breathing down their necks pretty hard at that time, wanting a follow up to The Wall.
First it was going to be The Wall Part II, but the other members did diddly squat, so of course, The Final Cut is pretty one-sided.
I am not mad at Gilmour or Mason or Wright for doing what they did, which was lose noticeable creativity after the huge success of The Wall. But to always be bashing Waters for still having creativity and drive, while the others members were in writers-block is unfair.
The band went on and Waters took the reins, with force, but thats the quickest way to pick up slack. By the time of The Wall, Gilmour saw himself as a guitarist only, and was playing 'pop' songs inbetween sessions.
The only thing wrong with the TFC is it doesnt have the magic of 4 guys playing with comradery and being on the same page.
Lyrically its a wonderful album.

David, Rick, and Nick were either 'creatively spent', as you note, or Roger didn't give them much of a chance to be creative. I think it's probably a combo of both, although I think Roger was probably pretty hard to work with in those days. It's hard to be creative in a group when one of the members is hell-bent on having his own way.

Whatever the excuse is, it doesn't matter. The album was not good.