I recently replayed Gears 2 and Road to Ruin and I agree. It tried to do some interesting things with semi-stealth segments but I feel it was a bit too repetitive and didn't really fit with the tone of what happened storywise prior to that segment. So I can understand why they decided to cut it. I haven't played Aftermath (and Judgment in general), but planning to catch up later this year.
I've been chin deep in The Long Dark lately and it is EXACTLY up my alley.
Cold, slow, thoughtful, challenging but fair, player driven, quiet, OH smurf A BEAR, relaxing, pensive, emotionally satisfying.