I am probably going to avoid ME:A.. i loved the first 3 Mass Effects, and actually thought ME3s ending was fitting to the themes presented throughout the Trilogy unlike most people..
but this whole, "brand new Galaxy!" is the stupidest thing..
back around ME3s launch a few people on the old Bioware forums said "we have already seen the milky way, we should be in another Galaxy next time!"..
which is stupid IMHO, there are over 100 Billion stars within the Milky Way Galaxy, even during the events of ME1-3 the vast majority are still unexplored, with less than a fraction even charted..
they could have just as easily gone this "exploration driven" route within the Milky Way and it would have worked just as well, we could have easily encountered new worlds, new races, new technology without making a Galaxy hop.. but instead they have fallen upon this "new galaxy" gimmick because they likely saw that thread on the BW forums going "ohh, this guy wants a new Galaxy, okay, lets give it to him!"..
its like if Tolkein had Lord of the Rings after Return of the King and said "okay, next book lord of the rings book, set in Narnia!"
NOTE: not trying to be mean to anyone who is looking forward to ME:A, i hope you enjoy it if you are, these are just my personal opinions
i'll agree with you there