I understand what C&D is trying to say with regard to the negative aspect of refinement. Of course everyone loves refinement ... nobody is going to argue against refining a redesigned car. You guys are missing the boat here. They aren't saying that the 3 is bad, only that with progress comes the loss of what we were formerly used to, and change isn't ever easy.
They mean to imply, and I for one agree (having driven both the Protege and the 3) that the refinement has taken away the spritely and zippy nature of the old Protege. The 3 is bigger and heavier, and it is impossible to hide that bulk and weight ... but there is no doubt that the 3 does so excellently. Nevertheless, it has, as they said, "grown up". The handling is still there and it still exhibits the qualities we expect it to, but it is still heftier than the Protege. That is not a bad thing, but I understand exactly why they missed the lighter, "less refined" feel of the former Protege. It simply wasn't as bulky and quiet as the 3, and that has a certain lasting appeal that the 3 has sacrificed in order to become bigger and better.