I don't have the game but I have been watching a walkthrough. I have to say, I am one of the people who are extremely annoyed by Samus and her whining. And yes, that is what it is. Making someone suddenly talk doesn't give them a "personality."
From what I have seen of the gameplay, it is a little boring and monotonous, but maybe I've been spoiled by Super and Prime. I do miss the scanning.
Honestly, it just seems like Fusion 3D, but worse than Fusion. I do like the whole conspiracy angle, but again, Fusion already did that. It really seems like Aliens a little more than the other games.
As for Ridley, is the implication that his species' natural life cycle involves being a Furby during the larval phase? I don't think that makes much sense, and given the whole conspiracy, it is possible that it is yet another modified version of him. (WTF is Kraid? Seriously, it is always Ridley this and Ridley that, but no Kraid.)
Edit: OK, just watched the Ridley battle. The cutscene and the battle itself was epic. Until Samus went into zero (class) suit and start going "waaah." Anthony is the man though, he is the only likeable character.