I’m starting to believe zone battle is the best mode in Wipeout.
It takes zone and gives you a goal to reach, rewards you for not hitting walls while collecting speed pads, and severely punishes you for making mistakes. On top of all that its a race!
Regular zone is great for testing your skill or just simply spacing yourself out and putting your mind in a trance. Zone battle is on the other end of the spectrum, it is chaotic. You need fast reaction time for the unpredictable, not just having the track memorized. Also there is a lot of strategy involved; when to use shield/heal, where to place barriers, when to barrel roll etc.
If so many barriers when playing 8 people is ruining the experience for you, try online 1 vs 1. Its a great test of skill and very intense.