As with anything in life, some people will like things and some people won't. I appreciate that and I respect the multitude of opinions on this forum. Our differences are what makes the world go 'round!
I enjoyed the beta this past weekend and I have preordered my copy. It took me a while to wrap my head around some of the altered mechanics (my character felt a little slower/more sluggish) and the healing/armor kits took a bit to get used to (but more realistic - in the heat of battle I am pretty sure it is more realistic to take a few moments to apply a bandage/stem the bleeding, etc).
I feel that progression in TD2 will be a little slower (at least for me) as I figure out modification trade-offs (which I like - because you can't have the good without the bad and I think it adds a level of strategy to putting together modifications, instead of just stacking a bunch of modifications on your weapon), and I work to figure out the best way to use cover to my advantage. I feel like the movement of the AI is more effective at keeping me on my toes and preventing me from setting up my tent and camping in one location.
I struggled a bit with the UI and menus, and found that I was looking for stuff in the wrong spots. Also, the 'incoming help' request got old very quickly and I found myself turning it off before I even started play. However, I did appreciate the loot drop indicators (white pillars) that turned red if your inventory didn't have room for that item - it saved me having to run across what could be an active battle scene hoping for a usable item only to find out I already have a full compliment of said item. I also really liked the abundance of loot in the area, and the added task of providing knick knacks to different control points and settlements to help them rebuild.
As a very casual TD1 player (about 150 hours - main story completed), I have spent very little time in DZ, and for me, the enjoyment is in the main story missions and PVE, with the occasional venture into the DZ (where I will promptly be killed ). I like the addition of several DZ areas in this game, and the normalization of stats is helpful (for someone like me) as well.
I think this game doesn't leave as much opportunity for those who work hard to progress to a tank-like build (although I am confident those build opportunities will still be there), and has opened the door to a more equalized end-game approach. And maybe I am way off base on that last assumption - but I am putting it out there.
I am sure that a lot of the hiccups people are talking about on here will be addressed in the month before release, and I am looking forward to taking some time to explore the entire map, check out all the skills and modifications, and play TD2.