2000 was the first Windows with an NT kernel that was really usable on the desktop. Some may argue NT 4 but in 2000 almost everything worked as expected. XP was clearly better of course.
But you’re right - ME was actually a successor to 98 and XP was the joint successor to 2000 and ME.
How can you so batantly skip over Win 7? I’ve heard some argue 10 was better (it wasn’t) but that 7 >> XP was pretty undisputed.
All three are shit compared to Linux, of course (Arch btw).