I understand how old TRs may be difficult to get into from a modern perspective. I won't defend the tank controls - they're very dated - but there is one thing they got right that all Crystal's games failed at: consistency. The controls were very precise, Lara did exactly what you told her, nothing more and nothing less. Her jumps had always the same length, height and physics. This is the basis of good platforming. In Crystal's games jumping feels very automated. Even if you're too far or miss a bit, Lara will be drawn to the ledge as if she had magnets in her hands.
Regarding confusing environments, well it's something that comes down to personal preferences. For me the level-sprawling puzzles that required careful exploration of every nook and cranny were part of the appeal of the old games. I can admit that some of them could be a bit too obtuse, but I'll take that over the reboot's laughable one-room tombs and ridiculous
hand-holding. Again, I think they were on the right track with Underworld but then instead of building up on this, they ditched it altogether.
Also, I find your remark about too many enemies in Anniversary a bit weird. There were already way fewer enemies than in Legend.