Took a while for anyone to ask this...
I didn't like it. I'd have rather the provinces have been smaller and had more varied provinces instead. Instead of the Fire Sanctuary section in Eldin I'd have preferred another province, perhaps an ice province. And instead of having the whole Sand Sea section we could have had a province exclusive to the past, a Re-dead infested wasteland where Demise had held his war against Hylia, that would have been nice...
As it stands though i didn't like going back three times each to the same places, yes, before you say 'we had new areas', I mean same places as in a desert is still a desert, i've still got the familiar colour palette, enemies and field obstructions, i may be doing something a little different but it isn't enough to cure the feeling of boredom and repetition. So no, i didn't like going back, if i go back to a place in Zelda then its usually to explore of my own accord.