Eh, I still liked the game, but those sorts of things tend to detract from what would otherwise have been a stellar title. I didn't trade it in, which is saying something considering I bought it almost as soon as it dropped, and could've some good store value for it.
I think the thing that was most grating though, when comparing it to Sands of Time, was they ditched the wonderful Middle Eastern sounding music in the first one for Metal in Warrior Within, it was all basically to draw the Linkin Park demographic to the game, which I don't think was needed.
It gives me hope for the new one that they've brought the guy who did the music for Sands of Time back on for this one.
Unfortunately looking at the screens it looks like they've decided Sand Monsters still must bleed. Maybe they're actually people this time, rather than beings of sand, that would make more sense.