Agree. There's much less flexibility in the new template compared to the customization you mention. We have a pink logo and the black or white text (not to mention the font that don't match at all) just looks ugly next to it. I could also position the logo/text just where it fitted (in a lighter spot on our background image), but it's not possible anymore.
Also, I don't like the fact that you now have to scroll down to see the gallery (even if there's no text above it).
Everything used to fit neatly in one screen, I don't the added value of spreading things so much (and I already hear users asking where the gallery's gone).
I hope the former home page won't retire as fast as Esri mentions (this year), because it's really a downgrade.