Yea, SSE felt like they were trying to make it feel like you had choices and options, when it was really linear as it gets.
Felt kind of long winded, too. I kept thinking "is it over?" after each level, especially the shorter ones.
I'd take classic mode over another SSE mode.
I wouldn't mind an SSE style mode if they cut out everything but that final level. That place would've been cool if I hadn't already played everything in it.