That's exactly the PLM attitude:
"And contrary to what existing users might like to think...."
... only be worried about new customers and therefore new seats.
What PLM didn't do was to talk to designers, who have to work on a daily basis with a tool which reached the peak of its performance in NX3. It can not be the case, that a software programer decides how my work has to be done. he only has to provide the tool, not the procedure.
Have you ever thought about your statement "easier tu use"? In which matter? If you start which NX, I agree. But if you get used to it your way of developing something will change. That flexibility is defenitely gone (or almost).
May be I phrased it wrong, but to make it clear I started with 10.4 and used every new main release and skipped only the main release NX4.
I was self employed 10 years and designed molds with UG/NX up to NX3. That means I had to make money with my designs. Today I'm happy, that one of my customers hiered me for a more responsible job, but still using NX. I would be in a bad shape, if I still would be self employed. In my opinion effecient work is no longer possible as it was up to NX3.
Here some things you can not wipe out (compared to NX3):
1. A whole lot more mouse clicks for the same action
2. constantly moving the menue bar across the screen
3. selection menue is way to complicated and therefore it takes too long to select something.
4. reaction time is way to long (point menue)
There is a whole lot more what is disimproved.
My recommendation: Talk to designers if you are interested in a honest opinion and improvement, not to an IT department or purchasing.