I understood from an air test I've read that the tapered wings introduced on the Warrior came with better ailerons and thus improved roll control.
As said I think the earlier aircraft look much better, but then again, as a small boy I enjoyed quite a few rides in Cherokee 140s/180s so may have some rose tinted bias! I have flown in Archer IIs several times more recently but never got to handle the controls of either iteration. Prefer the looks of the Cherokee Six to the Saratoga as well...