Returning player here (started in late 2021). Obviously things have changed, and I have a few things to comment on.
Let's go over the things I consider good.
-First of all, the story I think is really quite good, and I enjoy the fact that Beast-Yeast and beyond is split into three difficulties so all players can have a chance to experience it.
-I also do like the fact that from my knowledge, most cookies above epic on release come with enough resources to pity them, as that used to not be the case.
-The events in which you're allowed to get two free ancients and beasts is also really good, as obviously they're really high rarity. As well as the beginner guide. Gives you a lot of cookies to start off with.
-They also made guild battles skippable finallyyyyyyy
-MyCookie is also a neat feature. I don't really use it much but it is quite fun.
-The mine is also really good, as it's literally just free resources. All it takes is a bit of time.
Now my opinions aren't all positive, I do have things that I disagree with. Now I might be mistaken with a few things. Again, returning player. I'm not the most in touch with everything in the game rn.
-The Kingdom Arena meta I find kinda stupid. From what I've seen, it's the same 5 cookies almost every time at higher levels. I miss the variance, the things like summoner comps, the almond, caramel arrow and gingerbrave team, the meta comp and the counter-comp to the meta comp, etc. It's not even just the regular arena. The arcade arena season right now has effectively one meta team and if you don't have the cookies/don't have high enough promotions, then you're basically stuck at master 5.
-Magic candies. From what I know, they don't drop them very often. I think that there should be buffs to older units more often to give players who may not have the most OP cookies a chance to still contend and compete. I also don't think that they're really as good as they used to be. Espresso and Vampire used to be really relevant when their candies released, but I don't see any Pomegranates anywhere, for example.
-It is good that devsis give us enough to get a pity of the new cookie from the special gachas as long as you put in work, but something I disagree with is locking summon materials behind having the character. It's a "rich get richer" sort of situation. Take for example the timekeeper cookie missions. For pulling her, you get 800 cogs to help you pull her again. And yet people who don't have her can't get that, only making it more difficult for them. Overall, those missions give you 11,400 cogs for getting her to 4*. Personally, I don't think you need 114 free rolls if you have her that high already. I'm not saying that locking things behind characters is bad, but I disagree with the fact they lock summon materials of all things. They also didn't make her unfeatured on regular banners.
That's about all I have to say. Again, if I'm wrong on anything feel free to correct me, and also feel free to say any opinions you have.
This is just my personal opinion, I have played other gacha games and seen things implemented in ways I would consider to be better.