I found the offline (original) wallet method to be the most reliable and after reading you, correct me if i'm wrong, it still is.
There are pros and cons to both methods, and there is nothing stopping you from using both methods. I prefer a permanently airgapped computer with full disk encryption for the bulk of my cold storage. I transfer transactions back and forth using QR codes, using two separate webcams which are unplugged immediately after use, therefore eliminating any concerns regarding transferring malware or malicious code via a USB drive. The computer is stripped of all unnecessary hardware, only runs a basic open source OS and my bitcoin wallet and no other software, does not share peripherals with any other device, is stored in a safe in my house when not in use, and is only used in a room with curtains closed. However, I also use a couple of hardware wallets for funds I want to keep offline, but I will also be transacting with more often than with my main cold storage, which I might only touch once or twice a year. The ease of use of a hardware wallet is significantly higher than that of my main cold storage - just plug it in to my main computer I can be transacting within seconds.
Further, setting up an airgapped and encrypted cold storage device is not a trivial task, especially for someone with little technical knowledge, and there are many places you can go wrong in both the initial set up and the ongoing use. Conversely, buying a hardware wallet achieves a very good level of security (and I'm certain that some would even argue a better level of security), and is far easier to set up and use.
Now that's a security setup! The question is, how do you manage DEFI (that was the origin of my questioning) if there is no option for signing offline (airgapped pc)?