Do Western scholars give too much importance to the Manusmriti?

Hello, I'm from Argentina, and I'm currently reading the Rig Veda in a Spanish translation. After finishing it, I was planning to read the Manusmriti. Sadly, the edition I have is an indirect translation through a French version, so I assume a lot will be lost in translation. I got the impression—though I might be wrong—that Western academia discusses this text extensively. But in reality, is it as important as it seems? I’ve seen in previous posts that this might not be the case. From what I’ve read, it’s a controversial text. I'm interested in learning about various religions, both past and present, not just Hinduism. I'm particularly interested in those that shaped great civilizations. That's why I want to learn more about Hinduism—I'm just beginning to read about it. I want to gain a proper understanding of different religions, at least the basics. My native language is not English, and I’m using AI to translate this. I appreciate any insights you can share. Thanks very much!