So if owning and even remotely liking Ep1/Ep2 is silly in ila's book, then I must be twice as silly. ...Although in my case, that's probably not a good thing.
Music and other issues aside, I thought Ep2 was worth the price. But at $10, it'd definitely be a better sell, no doubt. I agree that despite the improved physics and graphics, some of the more notorious Ep1 gimmicks (bubble chains, too many springs/boosters) are still present in Ep2. But the placement/number of boosters feels (or seems to feel, anyways) better handled this time around. Special stages are still as frustrating as Ep1's are, but they should be easier than rotating a maze. The bosses (most of them, mind you) are actually original (or somewhat original).
Anyways, Ep2 is definitely a step in the right direction. If there is ever an Ep3, it needs to have (as Destructoid's Jim Sterling put) "more soul". Ep2 has improvements, but it's heavily lacking the ambience that came with the older games.
EDIT: I think I might've actually improved upon the Metal Sonic music. You be the judge of that.