You're a guy after my own heart. This has definitely been the problem of all the StarTreks after the original.
I always characterize the differences like this:
Captain Kirk would go down to a planet and find some kind of benevolent power which provides everything for the people. Kirk immediately shouts, "Men are supposed to work, and struggle and claw their way through life." And then would set about trying to neutralize said benevolent power.
But Picard had a totally different perspective. He would say, "Oh no. People shouldn't have to work and struggle. Eventhing you need should be provided. Personal property? He scoffs. We abandonded that outmoded idea long ago. We're all good little Socialist now. And fight? Somebody might get hurt. I'm sure we can talk our way out of any situation. I guess his French was showing.
TNG made me sick!
And finally, the magicical interplay between the Kirk, Spock, Bones, and all the other characters was unparalleled. This was partly because all of the characters were characatures. They were simple enough so that you knew everything about them. Deeper characters are for dramas, not SciFi action.