Fewer research choices doesn't necessarily mean fewer choices--or fewer interesting choices--in general.
Bear in mind that one of their stated goals (as it has been with prior Civs and expansions, to be fair) is to avoid an optimal research/build order that players will use with few variations no matter the circumstances. When there's a clearly "correct" build order, the number of other techs you might have researched tends not to matter as much.
Dont necessarily, but there is a good chance that it will since there will be less tech in total, and thus probably fewer available at all times (or maybe they just make the game shorter, who knows). Anyways, i approve of that goal, and its a goal they have mostly been good at achieving. And while we dont know anything for certain yet, the reduction of tech together with their general eagerness to make the game easier, means there is reason enough to be worried.