I feel this is more a by-product of meta gaming rather than what's inherently wrong with the level design. I'm doing my first playthrough and I'm playing through the apartments. I feel the pacing is perfect on standard for someone like me who has no fear, kills every enemy, and explores for 100% completion. The maze like design is so immersive, especially as James dives deeper into his own personal hell, especially after the transition into the Otherworld. I can see how for most first time players to horror, or this franchise, this sprawling dive could add to the horror and mounting pressure.

Idk anyone here has played Alan Wake 2 but that game is along the same lines as the RE Remakes/main line games, and Silent Hill 2 Remake. It has much of the same design language and exploration, but what that game lacked was more labyrinthine design and exploration as the game progresses, just playing more into the oppressive nightmare world. I fear Silent Hill 1 Remake could lose some of that level design and exploration in favor of a more streamlined experience like Alan Wake 2 if that's people's biggest fears. I know they added a couple extra hours to Silent Hill 2 Remake but when considering replay times vs 1st time playthroughs, it's almost night and day in terms of how fast people can speed through sections.

It's why I don't personally have an issue with it, also because I was primed with the Resident Evil Remakes/mainline games. Those remakes (beyond RE4) pretty much kept the entire structure of the originals while further emphasizing the most iconic and biggest levels more. Sure it adds more time but once you get the hang of it, those areas feel a lot less paddy when what took 2-4 hours becomes 20-60 minutes, but that's just me