Exacly the late mk1s and mk2s were very simple, but well engineered cars.
The newer VWs are designed by accountants and built for the modern desk pen pushing person who will be fooled by touchy feely plastics equal engineering quality.
I actually find it funny because the reason German cars took off in the uk was because of reliability and build quality + dealer service compared to british models like Austin and Morris.
Now imo VW has turned into BL and have similar issues.
This video to me after watching it all the way though sums up modern VW, they are making the same mistakes BL made and if they are not careful Hyundai & KIA in the next decade will take their custom as VW did with BLs 30 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTCfJKNE2hg&sns=emTo answer the original question, yes imo you are been too fussy. You have bought a mass produced consumer white good that most people will get rid of away after 3 years. Its not a concourse car its a mass produced object.
I had similar issues and had not moved with the times and expected more sadly that does not happen with modern VWs.