The new GE is just fine. The real problem is they did not start out with level one low enough for early era players.
It does need an adjustment there.
It should be possible for new players to be able to do all of level one. Rather than struggle to do a fraction of it.
So IMO they went in the right direction with GE, it need a bit of refinement at the low end.
The other thing they could do is add some real prizes starting say at level 8 or 10 and up.
Perhaps fragments of a nice new building. with increasing fragments as one finishes higher levels all interchangable. So as one gets better and can move up in level in GE, the fragments all count toward a great new building that all players would value.