n.b. I didn't enjoy the new contracts, either, at first. Played through them more, got better gear, better stats and then achieved better results.
The Painter is an excellent mini-story! That contract alone makes them worthwhile, imo.
Delivery Boy is funny, or pretty hot, depending which route that you take. This contract introduces the nuns, who you'll meet again in a later mission.
The 2 Evening contracts are a bit meh, although one get us a lot closer to Lelianna!
But they're very quick, so no real issue with them. If anything, I'd like them both to tell more of a story.
Nimble Fingers is an introduction to the contracts, but has some good back story lore regarding the MC. It also introduces a new character.
I think that having alternative routes and different scenes and endings, depending on your choices, makes these new contracts more immersive than the old ones.