With the new design brewing (not that I like the mockup much at all...), I thought I'd chime in and share support over the idea. As the OP points out, readability is impacted, and I can confirm that finding the right menu item has been trickier ever ...
I like how you brought up "opinionated" as that's a part of the company's motto. I'd go further and call the entire update opinionated, provided customisation features don't land in time or at all.
This screams "Material You" or whatever the latest Google's homogenous, ugly design is called. The only thing I like is the addition of Kit (beautiful mascot, by the way ❤️). Everything else looks like change for the sake of change, but doesn't even...
