Photos app, yes! I agree! It is trying to be better. But WMP (the new one) is absolute rubbish! The FilmStrip is on my nerves because every time you open an image/photo, it pops up and blocks the bottom portion of the image. It should not be a part of the photo viewer (mode), should be a part of the photo editor (Photos app edit mode, not view mode)! Nonsense! You have to click on the image or press the F key to hide it manually! It takes too long to load an image and the FilmStrip if you have a large number of photos in one folder (tries to make its FilmStrip thumbnails).
Unlike you, I am a big fan of macOS UI (not the iOS or iPad OS)
. They work more than Microsoft on their UI than their OS functions (Microsoft do this inverse). All macOS UI elements have consistency (at least, more than Win UI). Windows has even a problem in the first step of its UI design, the Font! Just compare Mac and Win fonts (San vs Seg), I prefer the old Helvetica Neue though! (a bit more fat and easy to read for eyes). Segoe is not good enough (IMO) to be the main UI font (IMO, it's rubbish). Apple use spaces (in UI design) just as needed! Not like the new Office, Notepad, or Paint ribbon...