I think Mystic Manor (which I haven't been able to ride yet) appears to strike much more of the sort of balance I'd like to see; just going off the ride videos I've seen, that attraction is overflowing with AAs and setpieces in a way that Ratatouille just simply is not (again, based on the ride videos I've seen, in which the ride seemed VERY underwhelming). MM seems to use screens not as the driving centerpieces of conveying the action, but as accents and enhancements to the physical effects. I do think you're on to something when you say it could be a bit of an industry shift, not merely a Universal-centric issue. On the other hand, maybe they just viewed Ratatouille as their (much belated) direct answer to Spider-Man, and it's not necessarily a harbinger of rides to come.
Given what I've read about Kong in this thread over the past months, I'm very optimistic that it's going to hit that sweet spot of AAs, giant setpieces, and exciting screen action. Hopefully it will please fans on all sides of the issue!