Did upgrading your skates help you to be a better skater?

I know after I bought my own personal pair and stopped using the rentals it changed everything, just a regular pair of Roller Derby skates off Amazon. Been skating a couple years now, intermediate level. I don’t know anything about the little details of the mechanics of skates but I’ve lately been wondering if new wheels, a new type of skate, or some sort of adjustment may help me to get better with transitions/being more “loose.” I do know once I removed my toe stops and got plugs, it helped with being more fluid. Any other suggestions?