I do agree about the pumping, turning pump assist up helps, it's easy if you're just going up and down a half pipe but if you're trying to flow through a bowl section like the X games bowl, if I want to flow around while maintaining speed with pumping I have to turn the pump assist almost all the way up but when I hit a lip it shoots me up into the air, the speed feels so inconsistent, one second I'm hauling **bleep** then the next second I lose all speed. skate 3s transition mechanics felt so simple and good.
I also agree about the city, it's so condensed and busy that it almost feels like it's hard to breath. a lot of players including myself want a more grounded atmosphere where we are not being bombarded with obstacles which can feel like a sensory overload. but it is what is and they're not going to change it but a new map that feels more open and realistic like the suburbs in the previous games is what many of us want because most of us didn't skateboard in cities, id argue most skaters grew up skating in neighborhoods, schools, local parks etc.