I liked Sophia but I'm not sure what she sees in Tate. I also find the cattiness between Holly and Sophia typical of Ron's writing so it's boring. I don't despise her and I don't despise Holly when she's not around Tate (her scenes with EJ on 9/25 were great).
I like Fiona because you can see/feel her conflict. Like Brady, she has a disease. Like Xander, she is horribly broken inside and even when it feels like the hurt has been repaired, it is ready to be reopened easily.
I prefer a scheming-for-sex (even if it is with the clownish Tate) Sophia and a drunken Fiona to witchy villains like Kristen and Ava in their heydays or Bond-level silliness like Stevano or Dr Rolf.
I prefer the human, relatable stuff to the over-the-top stuff, especially since Days has hit the latter so hard under Mr Carlivati. My opinion.