Your inquiry leaves out the most important thing to consider. If you support PJ then by default you support Giannis as a NBA champion and that I cannot do. I'd rather see Harden win than Giannis win no matter how much I like PJ.
Next best thing to a competitive Rockets team: watching PJ outwork Harden in a closeout game. Going right by him to grab a rebound and putback while Harden stood there flat-footed. Ability comes, ability goes. Character endures.