@jwcph
Ok, so it seems like this is just coming down to your dislike of where the story went at the end of phase three and how it affected the stories after that. I'm not sure why you retroactively dislike things you enjoyed before, though. I guess it just comes down to your tastes changing and things not being as cool as you remember.
Also, as far as being connected, I think that was always the goal (after Iron Man). Feige is a comic book fan and the best comics have crossovers. (cont.)