One of the problems with the linear paths are builds being forced to take useless abilities to reach needed ones. No more 18wiz 2rog..one of my favorite builds. I use carnifex for most of it.. not a quarterstaff or crossbow, which this is "pushing" me to do. One of the benefits, and in my opinion one of the greatest aspects of the game, of the current system is the ability to nitpick what we want. Giving us the ability to add flavor easily. With these per-determined paths to "choose" from it's forcing us too much.
EDIT: Now that I'm in the game and actually checking it out hands on, I really don't like the feel it gives forcing you to pick a prestige.. it's too much "cookie cutter" like Rift etc.
Should just be a single dot for the class level, when you take a level in it it opens up.. take a couple that link together and it opens a prestige and new circles etc.