I agree completely with you in regards to what needs to be fixed. The thing is I was thinking about how best to put it, and what I came up with is this:
Criticizing EA (constructively or not) - does no good to the game right now. Meaning the one that is in my hands named FIFA 15.
The difference between what criticizing EA and accepting is the use of sliders. Criticizing EA is like just creating a wish list, versus sliders is working with what you got - after all you spent your hard earned cash on it - no point in creating a wish list if the goal is to fix/improve the game in your hands right now.
Fwiw, I spoke a while back to someone who has provided his thoughts with the dev team. The balance of finding agreement between casual and hardcore gamers is a tough one apparently. I half hearted accept this - but I do understand where it would come from. I can't imagine a casual gamer trying to play the FIFA game that I play now with sliders and expect to come away with a result using their previous methods of kick of glitches, etc. There is no kick off glitch with these sliders - it's gone, honestly, I have tried. The sliders are like playing a user who is playing full manual - that's how much fun it is.
I understand EA and their sliders is a cop out - I mean, I more than accept that. The thing is - people underestimate the value of them. What is also underestimated is just how much knowledge you gain by learning the intelligence/engine of FIFA 15 by working on sliders. I can answer any question now because of the time I have spent on sliders. I can do it for FIFA 14 as well. Anyone can do the same thing if they're willing to put in the time because they see enough value to play this FIFA 15 game - not FIFA 16 or FIFA 17 - just this game, that is in my hands, that I paid for.
I have to accept that there are those that will always look for the future of the series and dismiss what is in their hands, right now (unless you've sold it already), but if there are possibilities of core issues being fixed, or the negative effects lessened, then that is where the focus should be. That is where the inspiration comes from - and that is what the devs listen to, the how, the why and the what if - not for next year's game, or after, this year's game - and only this year's.
I never had issues with the control scheme, but then again I play all manual except for short passing @ semi and gk @ assisted. I know guys had complaints in the past about player switching etc, who would have thought a simple increase in Sprint and Acc would fix these issues.
With that said, I wanted to show a clip of what more sliders can do even after this update, and even if there is still that defensive line issue. It is miles away from how default looks. Yes, it masks some glaring fundamental issues - but you'll still enjoy the crap out of your games. Sliders increase or decrease percentages of what the hardcode gameplay produces - that's all - you pick your battles with the game in hand, it will only help what's in it for the future.
YouTube - FIFA 15 Sliders - Operation Sports Community Sliders - Gameplay Only
Merry Christmas!!