I started my early gun collecting with Lee-Enfields.  :)

In time, the Lee-Metford evolved into the Short Magazine Lee-Enfield. The .303 caliber S.M.L-E proved to be a great battle rifle during WW1. Getting to that point was difficult and painful for the British.

In fact they adopted the (Mauser 'Clone') Pattern 1913 Enfield in .276 caliber (7mm) and had started making them, when "The Great War" got in the way!

I do not consider the Lee-Metford or similar early Lee-Enfield to be better rifles than the Krag.

Both British rifles were a disappointment during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). They were outclassed by the Boers armed with 7mm Mausers (identical to the Spanish Model 1893).

The Metford rifling did not survive long. It wore out quickly with the heat of Cordite and jacketed bullets. There was a change to Enfield rifling to improve barrel life.
The sights were fragile and Sighting was poorly regulated.

The British went to 'Charger-Loading' in the early 1900's as the result of lessons learned in the Boer War.

The Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles were used as 'Single-Shot' rifles, with the 10 round magazine held in reserve. There were no spare magazines; the soldier had a difficult task loading single rounds into the Lee magazine.

The Krag's ergonomics and side loading-gate allowed faster reloading of the magazine. With a one piece stock and better bedding system, most Krags 'off the rack' were more accurate than the early Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles.