Saying that Contra has aged better than Zelda 2 is like saying that JFK has aged better than Queen Elizabeth II. Its such a wildly incorrect and borderline offensive statement that one can only assume that you’re joking.
I agree with almost everything you said. The only points that I will debate you on are:
There was a Zelda formula at the time, LttP didn’t invent it. There was a set method to Zelda 1s design and it’s been used in literally every singleplayer title in the series prior to BotW.
That being...