I'm in favour of the level design as well. There was a bit of a learning curve with understanding how to integrate the world map into the exploration but after a while I was having fun filling out each area on the world map. To me it's a slightly more rewarding and less on the nose compromise to waypoint markers.
What should be even more contentious is the plot/ending, since those are somehow even shittier than the average Kirby foray.
Count me one more for loving this game. I'll agree there are some issues with the map design, but my problem mostly comes from the existence of "Goal" rooms, since far from acting like a destination to seek out, they wind up being surprise dead ends that make you return to the hub to replay areas and try again for the correct route. If they were replaced with some intra-zone fast travel points, or else just looped back into the rest of the map better, this would be such a smooth, fun exploration experience. My left nut for a true successor to this game.
What should be even more contentious is the plot/ending, since those are somehow even shittier than the average Kirby foray.