But, I suspect that the grind for a new group of players and DM will still have a higher chance of grind, especially if they use WotC modules from the first year.
Now this part I agree with to a point. Keep on The Shadowfell was particularly badly written especially some of the encounters. However that is indicates a problem with the modules or more accurately a problem with the module design (or at least that one) not necessarily a problem with the system. Elevenfootpole has an excellent analysis of that module. In fact I'm in the middle of a project to rewrite that series of nine modules to fix some of the design issues and make them into a somewhat more cohesive campign.