Yeah, LoS is not, and should not, be the exact same as Classic Spyro. I love me some awesome combat, especially if it's a dragon or a Werehog!
Yeah, Spyro did seem a little too serious in DotD. It didn't really bother me though(it's nothing compared to the way Sonic acts in Sonic 06). Although, Cynder seemed to have had some fun. I loved her in DotD. Her kind of wit reminds me of me and my friends!
Combat in video games really isn't my kind of thing, I don't mind it in Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider, but in TLOS you have to constantly use it all the time, I just find it frustrating.
I didn't like Cynder at all, she just seemed annoying, I think it was because her voice-actor was horrible, this is all my opinion by the way.