I'm giving it a 3 now, but I fully expect it could reach 4 stars with patches. Hell, 5 is possible too, but that really depends on what they do and how I feel about it a year or two from now, but I can't really say as to that...
For reference, Civ IV Vanilla would only get 3 stars off the bat too.
Also, about "what you're seeing," you've got to keep in mind, it's usually the people who really dislike something who are the most vocal. The ones who like it have little to complain about and are happily playing the game.