I love watching people play it on xbox 360 because it reminds me of minecraft's golden ages (anything before beta 1.8). I honestly think they shoulda stopped at 1.7, all this enchanting and potion making really sucked the simplicity out of the game.
Actually, i dont think you've played the new version enough then, just like you, i hate(ed) it, now i fucking love it, potions and all, it makes combat so much more exicting.