I think modern gaming deserves criticism in a lot of ways, but there are still masterpieces being made.
Also comparing any Zelda to MM is a bit unfair. MM is inferior to most Zeldas in quite a few ways, but people love it because it has a level of story, characterization and world-building the rest of the series doesn't even try to do. It's not a better Zelda in the classic Zelda sense, it's an unique work of art.
If you want the perfect Zelda experience you should look for something like Zelda 1/LttP/OoT/TP/BotW, while MM is more like a spin-off.
I've played every Zelda title except SS (Motion plus problems). That's part of why I'm just so baffled and irritated. I felt MM was kind of middle-of-the-pack and hated the day mechanic; yet I constantly hear about how it's the best Zelda of all time and everything. Same goes for Morrowind and how people act like it's a condensed kiss from a gaming god while Skyrim is a 50 cent hooker you only paid 25 cents for to kiss your butt in comparison (I.E. They can't think of anything positive). Fallout? Same deal except, oddly, for NV. Pokemon Red and Blue? MASTERPIECES WORTHY OF ADORATION! Sun and Moon? YOU ARE A HEATHEN FOR FINDING ANYTHING EVEN REMOTELY POSITIVE!
*sigh*
It's just so damned tiring! As if all people want is the old game but made more 'mature' (I.E. dark with sex and violence) instead of actual improvements and any flaws get blamed onto what technology was like at the time, 'casual complaining', or something else stupid. Sure, some game series and franchises went downhill with modernization, but many went UPHILL as well! We're even starting to see platformers return despite being basically dead since the PS2 era and they're pretty sweet!
You actually make a fine point, i do find SS extremely interesting for me in a way that it has one hell of a swordplay maechanic, and the Wii Mote actually makes it really fun to go against certain opponents (Scaldera, Demise and others) but it seems that people just go on to dislike because it isn't as open world as other games, like it has to be mandatory always!, Persona 5 didn't need a big world and it was amazing!
I really enjoyed SS and thought it was one of the best games in the Zelda series, but still, that was part of the Wii gen even if it was close to the very end. It annoys me a bit how many people just passed over it or hate it when it makes some of the best use of motion controls in any game out there (or at the very least its a great starter game for advanced motion controls). The back half of the Wii was fairly weak, but I still think too many people gave up completely on it too early and didn't keep an eye out for titles like SS. ---
"Lower your guard and you will allow the enemy in." - Frog from Chrono Trigger (the original alt frog). https://imgur.com/hSc6hOs