The 25pdr being nominated shows how emotional factors displace pratical realities. The 25pdr lacked the split trail that its rivals had, requiring a cumbersome wheel mount to have the rapid traverse its box trail prevented, the box trail also reducing elevation, and the caliber (88mm) was also a compromise, lacking the destructive powewr of a 105mm shell. It was handy, and since it was neither a gun nor a howitzer but a bit of both it was popular. But next to the superb US 105mm, with its split trail, excelent ammo, and outsanding durability and praticability, it was too old fashioned.
Of course many will be quick to point out that the much loved L118 Light Gun shares many of this same faults. The light gun was meant as a weapon for artillery elements of light infantry units, and that limited role justifies its peculiarities. So if the 25pdr had been meant for the same limited role, it would have been great, it was the fact that it was meant at the time for field artilery roles that leads me to label it as inferior to other contemporary designs.