I don't mind it much. Some games do it better than others and a one off joke in more "serious" games is usually fine but rarely ever enhances the experience. It really just comes down to the writing and how well it meshes with the rest of the narrative.
I agree, why waste the time if you have to slog through content you're not enjoying just on the off chance there is a character you may like. Maybe I'm just lazy though lol
Definitely worth a try once you get M+
You should also try Parental Love if you haven't already, that has a couple of teen characters and a great story.
It really depends on the game but I would say typically that mini games doesn't detract but also doesn't add much. But I have run into a few games where mini games can be a real pain in the ass so that can take away from a game being fun.
Seems to be the consensus on this thread but yeah good animations can definitely improve the experience, (I personally prefer it when you get a pov option). But bad animations can really detract from the experience.