Considering the origins of the franchise, it's hard to fault Capcom's "Team Little Devil" for focusing on gameplay over story; it was originally being developed as a Resident Evil game but as it was such a departure from the RE series instead of scrapping the project completely they re-rolled it into what became the original Devil May Cry. Interesting sets of gameplay mechanics with a shallow story slapped on to give it some sort of reasoning.
I was originally concerned about the new Dante; his new look and scrawny build seemed a bit of a stretch at the time. Yet he gradually grew on me, by the time the game had released I was ok with it, however, when I actually played the game and got properly introduced to the new Dante I see what Ninja Theory had done with the character: they gave him substance! I also like how Dante starts off with dark hair but gets gradually white as you unlock more Devil Trigger upgrades until it's all white. Or when you finish the game you get the white hair Dante as a skin.
EDIT:
I consider myself a gamer but I do not associate myself with these whiners. These are the same sorts of people I've heard complain about Street Fighter IV going "3D" and bitching how the game is not the same anymore.. Asshole, play the F-ing game and then make a call, you moron. There were these hordes of ignorant idiots who assumed the game had become Street Fighter EX or a Dead or Alive clone without even playing it!!
Gamers enjoy the game at its core; sure there are things to complain about at times but they are faults in the build of the game. As long as a game has a solid build a true gamer enjoys it nonetheless. I fancy myself the guy at the gameshop enlightening young gamers about the origins of gaming and the true meaning of being a gamer. *cue gospel back-vocals*