This whole thread is a lot of semantics.
The unfortunate reality is that although molly and ecstasy are both supposed to be MDMA, it is most often the case that they are not. Similarly, even if you buy "MDMA" it is likely to not be MDMA. Drug dealers can call their product anything, or claim anything about it. With the rise of the dark web, it is not uncommon to see advertisements claiming specific purity, origins etc. An advertisement may list "85% pure Dutch MDMA" but it may not contain MDMA at all.
Whether pills are better in your area are better, or "molly" is better in your area is largely going to be a regional issue. Who supplies the product? Where does it come from? How is it made?
A quick look at lab results will show that it is all adulterated - powder, crystals, pills etc.
I just read an article that stated that "the DEA reports that only 13 percent of the molly it analyzed in New York between 2009 and 2013 contained traces of actual MDMA."
Link:
https://maps.org/news/media/5993-playboy-ecstasy-was-legal-in-1984,-and-it-was-glorious
Bottom line: It doesn't matter what it is called, never believe it is pure MDMA. Test it. Test it. Test it. Even after that, proceed with caution.
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@TrapZeppelin My personal experience has been the same as yours. I have never had a power or crystal with the same effects as the pills that were floating around in the early-mid 2000s)