Ok my experience with greater enlivens is as follows. You get the most benefit out of GE that play to the strengths of your forms. (for example a damage raising GE will work best on a high damage form, a DR greater enliven will have the most impact on a high DR form (like the dillo or walrus). A dodge enhancing greater enliven gives you the most benefit on a dodgy form.

I noticed little to no benefit on from GE on forms that were not good at what the GE enhanced.

Haven't tried Utility or Air greater enlivens so I can't speak on the overall comparison. I liked all my GE sets about equally (have had offense, defense, and water)