Well as stated I think it
did receive praise because many people thought this stuff was new, and secondly I don't think it
is executed brilliantly.
It's great that the game learned some interesting things from games that came before, and did some genuinely impressive work in streamlining the execution of some of its systems like the slate powers, but I just find it frustrating (a little but at least) that people fawned over these elements to such an extent as if it was some groundbreaking scenario. They also held back in embracing the free form nature that truly makes the potential of emergent gameplay shine in my view - a few too many scenarios where plausible approaches and tactics from the player are denied because a prescribed solution is required.
I don't really see that as a problematic viewpoint either. I'm not saying it's a bad game (it's a bloody brilliant one!) or denying that these emergent elements are a great part of the game. But if someone comes on a music forum and starts banging on about how Lenny Kravitz is a musical genius and invented reggae then I think people would rightly be able to say "uh, hold on a sec..."