What do you people expect? The PSP is a basically a PS1.5 that you can fit in your pocket. You aren't going to get original ideas that take advantage of the system because, guess what, there's nothing to take advantage of. It isn't like the DS where you you have the touch screen. It's a bloody playstation so expect playstation games,
Except for the 'net connectivity. And supporting up to 15 players in multi without a lot of song-and-dance about a multi-tap.
I mean, I think I see what you're saying: "It's not as strong as a PS2, and without a 2nd analog stick the interface is not even as deep as PS2's, either." If so, I agree.
Sony pretty much postured the PSP as a PS2 that you can fit in your pocket, at which point EVERYONE expected PS2-level framerate, depth, and quality. And with the install base, PSP-only titles just can't afford to do anything in that category other than ports, and PS2 ports always, always pale in comparison to the source.