Well, I'll say that the latest iteration of talents is...interesting, in a very general sense. However, much like 90% of their latest design decisions, it only really opens up or
becomes interesting at max level, because of those level 75 & 90 talents (which didn't exist in the old system).
As far as which is better, let's put it like this: I think that even the Cataclysm model, with its horrendous 'forcing you down to the bottom of a tree before you can spend points in another' design, was better than this.
Sure, it's a fair argument for someone to say that they don't think +10% crit damage for 1 talent point is all that interesting. But I'd counter with the psychological effect it all has on the leveling experience. Seeing the whole tree and having the game ask you where you want to put the points every level or every other level gives the player a level of control over their character and something to look forward to that the new system just doesn't afford. In fact, the new system is more like autopilot for 14 levels, make a "choice" between 3 abilities or passives (ooh, a whole 3), and then autopilot for another 14... as if the game (developers?) thinks the players are utterly incapable of making the "right" choices, so it just does it for them instead...
Really? I'd call that pretty regressive, actually. Going from making 40-70 "choices" while leveling to 6 "choices" really takes a lot of that customization out of the players' hands... and in an RPG that just makes no sense. Especially when people make, read, and follow talent guides regardless...