Having used the new media controls for a week, I think it's OK. But like others have noted, I can't see the album art and title with my hand at 3 o'clock. If they would swap the location of the control "buttons" and the album art/title, it would be better. It doesn't matter if the view of the "buttons" are blocked by my right hand.
I'm hoping that eventually they will allow the choice of docking the controls at the bottom of the map again, so you can choose which pane to dock the media controls.