The problem with these setup episodes, character development or not, is that I don't see myself ever wanting to watch more than half of them again. The first time already feels like a drag.
The manga will catch up with the anime because it will most certainly skip all that. I want character development during dramatic battles or during the arcs themselves, I don't want checklist episodes each dedicated to a character, it feels way too superficial.
The pacing in this show is dreadful. The fight against Beerus dragged forever, then the introduction to the return of freeza was shortened and the fight itself extended, then the tournament was shorter than its manga counterpart, the first half of the Trunks arc was unbearably dragging for no reason and the second half ended up being rushed, etc.
They really need to work on the pacing.