The scrapping of maps really didn't change BL for me at all. I always stuck to the game's key feature, building. It doesn't matter if it is on an island or in a bedroom, I just like to build things out of virtual bricks. Now that there are no maps I have to build more and to me that creates more fun.
Now if the update was coupled with a raised brick limit, I think less people would have complained. But hardly anyone actually reaches brick limit in the first place. I frankly see maps as an excuse not to build, and I think now that they are gone there has been a renewed interest in actually using Blockland to build awesome stuff.
