I do think Civ V deserves some of the criticism it gets. Unfortunately I was always highly annoyed by the infinite unit stacks of the older games, and being free of them in Civ V has made it very hard for me to go back.
Agreed about the mods though. I love modding, and Civ 4 has some of the best mods I've seen for any game.
I agree about everything he said. Civ V modding possibilities should be made better in future expansions. And yet, although I liked how many great units Civ 3 moders offer, and how Civ 4 has already civ specific look to units from start + great mods and scenarios, then still, game mechanics and this wonderful organic look of the world makes Civ 5 now best in the series for me. If you really get into it, then Civ 5 feels more realistic. Not only by outlook, but how the game feels. I have had really cool tactical conquest games in Civ 5, but my favourite game was when I found out how cool was one of my peaceful playthrough. This guy playing 10 years this everlasting war, causing world to turn into wasteland - it was how game design leaded players then to certain future. Basically there wasn't any fun playing diplomatic game in Civ 2, Civ 3 and I think even in Civ 4... so you just grow your army and go for conquering, and then feel how wrong it is that you can easily conquer the world before 2000. But in Civ 5 it may really happen that peace is everlasting through the game, and still feel interesting. Or even if you go conquering, you soon find out that fighting a World War against coalition of most other nations is tough thing. Sure, I wouldn't imagine going into future when there is nothing to research in a game like this. So, what I would say... actually earlier Civs often caused you to be idiotic leader who in the end would cause doomsday scenario to come true, but Civ 5 doesn't endorse that one playstyle over all. And I believe that expansion even further expands the peaceful side of the game... at least I hope. In earlier games if you didn't grow your realm, sooner or later some bigger, more advanced civ would declare a war and you would be in deep. But in Civ 5 you can be smaller and with relatively small defense force without causing others to go to war against you. At least if you are a good, wise leader who has constant attention on diplomacy. And it even doesn't mean that you will be culturally and technologically backwards or economically weak... with Civ 5 mechanics it is easy to be advanced and well doing country, even when your lands are not biggest.
I really love the policy system, and now religion and espionage may make it even more interesting. Hopefully they enhance diplomacy too and make trading more important.. if not with this expansion, then with next one. Only part I now miss from old Civ 2, is how revolutionaries appeared around conquered cities. They would really well fit Civ5, as there is possibility to revive already conquered civilizations - so let rebels do that.
Yet... worst problem that Civ 5 has, is that is still buggy... I have patched it with latest patch I think, yet just in my last play I had few annoying problems... especially the one where I couldn't choose policy that gives me great person of my own choosing, because it just doesn't let me choose, and doesn't let me continue without choosing it either. Patches are what we need.. and proper support for modability.