WW was:
An overworld bigger than TPs, with less to do in it. Oh but it was an ocean instead of a field.
Less, shorter, easier, overall worse dungeons than OOT, MM (well, it had more dungeons than MM, but MM's were much longer and just better), and TP.
Replaced some questionable filler from the other 3d entries, with an undeniably bad fetch quest.
Sure, you could say they switched up the formula, but they really just condensed it. The only things I'd take from WW are the music from Dragon Roast Island, and the Forbidden Woods.
OoT had the best overworld imo, the mistake that was made was that everything besides Lon Lon Ranch was accessed from the edge of the field. TP was too large for its own good, MM had a good ratio of size:stuff to do, but it just felt off.