I expected the new changes to be irritating for me (and other experienced players) but most of it isn't as bad as I expected, though as you said it is a bit messy and wild. Which like most visual stuff they do will need some months to iron out. The one thing that does annoy me is the card flying in my face.
Especially since it happens again and again if my opponent is thinking and even briefly retracts it. It's as if the game is giving me a one-by-one tutorial of every card in the game, which I don't need and so I'd like an option to turn that off. (Edit: you can. Should have checked the settings myself before asking for that
)
As a general rule the less the game is communicating to me the better. That's why I'm glad stuff like warning you if you play into the 'wrong' row is optional.
On a positive note I'd like to say a lot of the animations feels more snappy and fluid which I really appreciate. Also the red/blue coloured ribbons are a nice touch. I like the addition of some more 'traditional' brighter Gwent colours as opposed to an overload of black and gold.