I actually don't think the water routes are too bad. There are a lot of them but most are easibly avoidable/can be travelled through quickly. My main complaint is that there is such a lack of diversity of Pokemon. Literally Wingull and Pelliper on every single route. Whether the remake is disappointing, I don't know. I managed to get through it, which is something I can't say about the originals! :P My team is Sceptile, Misdreavous, Lanturn, Dusknoir, Skitty and Swellow.
I don't know about you, but I just can't get into Cheek to Cheek. :(