Not a lot of people are going to like me for this but I've been saying it the longest: Gambit is the most overrated X-man this side of Wolverine. I won't call him trash because he DOES have his moments and he's for sure a better character than the likes of Sunfire or these new-millenium garbage characters they're coming up with today. But still, Gambit's whole existence really peaked with the early 90s for the most part.
The problem with Gambit is that he's

in the animated series but mostly

everywhere else.
The overwhelming majority of the really live stuff in the comics either has nothing to do with Gambit or takes place way before he first showed up. (except for retcons)
Apocalypse has the same issue IMO. He's dope in the cartoon but he's mostly a jobber in the actual comics.
The 80s Claremont era up until around #200 is the real golden age IMO.
There are a few bright spots after #200 (Mutant Massacre, Genosha), but nothing truly topping that initial level of greatness from the Byrne era IMO.
Paul Smith, John Romita Jr.