I agree on all your points. As someone who quite enjoyed all the happy events in the original version, it was the initial build up to the first event that really hooked me onto the story. There was an uneasiness that slowly permeated throughout the beginning of the story and when shit went sideways while you're just exploring around, it felt satisfying from a narrative stand point, and was actually pretty frightening. Now, with the rework, it feels a little too immediately edgy or too on the nose. I think that also ties into the beginning monologue being way too explanatory now.
I think if I was playing this for the first time, I wouldn't be nearly as interested in continuing as I was when I initially played the original version a few months ago. Visually, it's obviously much better now, but I think narratively, at least as far as the beginning hours go, the game has suffered from its' revisions. The only exceptions to that being Ayane's actions in the bathroom, and Ami's overall demeanor.