We see the same thing with "maiden" voyages (and even early sailings). Kinks are still being worked out and people seem shocked when not everything is 100%. They're so enamored with being "first" (and snatching up goodies associated with being "first") that they don't stop to think that "first" is also going to come with some bumps. There are some things you CANNOT know until things are being used. (Case in point, the flies. I seriously doubt that the workers were getting the huge amounts of food that are put out when ships visit. Without putting it all out, you aren't going to know that it's going to attract them in the numbers that it is.)
This is absolutely a fair criticism of being too critical of the island so early. That said, serving food in those conditions once the fly problem was understood was not sanitary. I realize
DCL would have had a lot of angry people if they said you need to come back to the ship for prepared food, but it does seem like the proper response from a food safety perspective, and should have been done with a ship credit or something to compensate guests until they could make it more safe.
The majority of beach chairs and umbrellas being placed in a sand pit, away from the water, with no view, is also a design flaw and not opening jitters.
The long pier doesn't bother me as much as others, as I would rather have that than tendering, and 1/2 a mile is nothing compared to what we walk in the parks, in other ports, etc. I am pretty satisfied with what I am seeing to accommodate those with mobility issues too, which my daughter would need. However, a little more thought and spend in the pier area would have kicked it up to be more in line with what people have come to expect from DCL and guest comfort.
I do hold out hope that DCL will learn and fix these two issues with some time. It really is an amazingly beautiful island and
@kdonnel's positive experience is promising. But, I personally wouldn't book it for at least a couple of years, which is much longer than just opening jitters. I want to see the vegetation grow more first, how difficult it is to get a chair and umbrella by the ocean without a foot race, if the unsanitary food situation is fixed, etc. Once that stuff comes into line, it looks incredible and exactly what I am looking for in a beach day in paradise.
I suppose Disney does have to cater to a crowd that often includes children where as Virgin does not. Choice is great!
I'll find a sand chair to use. There's no way I'm going to sit behind the dune. 
