Alright, good to know you're already aware of some of the major issues of this game!
Someone has also pointed out the attitude of the villagers, which frankly never bothered me... though I admit that, considering this game was originally intended to a younger audience, I can see how it might be seen as cruel and hurtful being uncalled for.
But now, let's say a few good things that I liked:
- There are villagers that had been abandoned since this game, never to make an appearance again. So, you have the chance to meet some of them as if they're actually new!
- Blue cosmos. There are BLUE COSMOS! My own town is covered in them, only blue cosmos. I always wondered why they had to delete the only blue flower we had (until blue roses came along in NL).
- General buidings have a nice corner-view, instead of being shown flat in front of.
- There's a full collection of scale models! I loved so much those items. I painstakingly hunted down every single one of them. In later games they eventually reduced numbers until almost disappear
- This a really minor thing, but Tom Nook's catalogue has a tab for handheld items, which I found very useful.
- In summer, you can participate in group activities with your villagers, like the morning aerobics. It's very fun!
- In the police station, you get both of the dogs at the same time. No need to choose one and reject the other.
- Golden trees. No bell trees, no. I mean real, beautiful golden trees