Some of the readability updates (monster location, possible loot, ability scores and initiative bonus) are cool.
The stat blocks themselves, though, retain the usual problem, imo. These monsters are not up to par with a party of their level. The CR6 cyclops has no legendary resistances, for example, in a game where every martial character forces a saving throw on a hit with the newly introduced weapon masteries.
They also removed some flavour from the stat blocks. The dragon doesn't make claws/bite/tail attacks, for example, but generic "rend" attacks.