Since shopify rolled out there translation API, apps are able to create truly multi-lingual websites.
Each subfolder from the domain loads a totally localized site (loaded server-site) with all the content in the wanted language. Apps like langify do this.
→ Ok then they changed something (lately?) → I will look into it more, because that will be a drastical change. And you can track and select each Language page indivudally and not getting search results of all languages? And Target and set “values” to each Language indivudal & unique from the main shop?
It is obvious that having different stores so you can adapt the content to different markets is a more flexible solution that can be interesting in some cases, but not in all, and that is another matter.
→ That is what I want trying telling you, it all depends on the needs of the owner.
Anyhow, the questioner of the thread has to ask the question himself what he/she wants.