While wandering through downtown and hopping from one skytrain to the next there are two options to switch from the Canada Line to the Expo-Millenium Line and vice versa.
Either you get off on Granville/Georgia and walk through the Vancouver Center or you ride the skytrain to their last stop at Waterfront. Whether you come from Burnaby/Surrey or from Richmond the two options are the same.
Question arises whether it is faster to ride the skytrain to Waterfront or change trains by the Vancouver Center.
Walking to the other station would make it slower than staying on the same train, they are all very close geographically.
You can also walk 1/2 a klick from Granville (VCC too, much slower) up Seymour in a few minutes, that may even be similar to either option if you walk fast.
My guess is that there is little difference between the two choices.
It's further to walk from Granville to Vancouver City Centre, as you have to go up the long escalator and through The Bay. At Waterfront, it's up a shorter escalator, across the station, down the stairs and through the walkway.
However, that long walk is likely offset by the amount of extra time it takes to go from Granville to Waterfront on Skytrain.
I prefer to ride to Waterfront station and transfer there.
Transferring between the City Center and Granville stations involves walking for about a city block undergound.
Plus, getting on at Waterfront gives you a better chance of getting a seat on the train.
Thank you for your input, hearing it from you fellow long timers, there is little difference between Granville/Georgia transfer and Waterfront. But tendency it to switch at Waterfront.
Inconspicuous remark: Who built a tiny loop like this anyways, they should have extended it to the west side then create a hub on Granville/Georgia. Ah well, city planning, there are gazillions of elements to keep in mind...