So, if anyone isn't interested in Bethesda's presentation, or wants something to watch after it's done, check out my last minute pre-E3 project.
Good video, overall I agree with your thoughts on both the pros and cons with the game, and I do think that it's pretty apparent that the games are meant to bridge the gap for players that aren't a part of the main Pokémon series rather then cater to core fans. It's not a bad direction for the game by any means, and as you said, it definitely seems to be working, but it is one that was bound to be controversial and GF did handle the situation well when approaching it and how they announced it.
As for me, I'm pretty much with you in that the game doesn't appeal to me, at least not currently. The additions it adds are nice as following Pokemon and being able to ride any large Pokémon are features I wanted to see myself. However, I also feel it keeping so strictly to the originals is a huge detriment to the games since there was a great opportunity to expand on the Kanto region and give it more character and identity outside of the nostalgia, and instead it plays into that nostalgia with seemingly little else. I don't think it would've chased away the older fanbase if they took the time to make the environments more lively or added (pre-)evolutions like Espeon, Crobat, or Pichu to the roster to give more options that weren't available in the originals, so both of those issues being ignored just comes off as playing it too safe at the sacrifice of Kanto growing up with the times. There are still a few months to go, so there may be more to the game then any of us are aware of, but I will admit that currently it just seems like it's just Yellow with a few tweaks, and while that appeals to others that just doesn't appeal to me.