I like the fact that playing different tribes will force you to play a different style game. I did not like the fact that for almost everyone in C3C getting the philo jump was the way to go. The traits seem to make as big a difference in how you play as to the cards you are dealt in surrounding terrain...
One little bitch though... I've played 3 games so far and never had iron/marble/stone in my territory. At least without clobbering someone for it