Is complex and advanced necessarily better

[YouKnowWho]

That is why there is criticism saying some MA styles are more a performing art than a fighting art.

I don't think the "performance" has anything to do with "advance".

In the Chinese throwing art, the advance level training is to train your combo (to use one move to set up another move). Most of the time if your opponent's skill level is high, your solo move won't work. You have to borrow your opponent's force and put your hope on your 2nd move instead of your 1st move.