I also like this rather more than other fans, although I think your criticisms are valid.

I haven't seen it for years, but I think it did feel more like old Doctor Who, which might explain why I like it more than some fans did. The Doctor/Rose relationship has fewer romantic overtones, IIRC, and I felt the Doctor and Rose were generally more likeable than in other stories of this season - Rose shaking her head at the Doctor for eating jam out of the jar in the kitchen instead of them taking over the Connolley's house in The Idiot's Lantern. It was also small scale, which I like, with some good jokes.