Well, the UI is basically the same as ever, but many details HAVE changed. It is definitely improved compared to the initial release. But if you simply can't stand the overall design of the SEV UI, then yeah, you've got a point. But as Narf says, the difficulty of the request affects the response. For example, hexagons don't fit our PC monitors as cleanly as SEIV squares did, but changing that would require re-coding most of the game (not to mention changing gameplay substantially). So Aaron's not going to do that. (Anyway, hexagons are way better. Most games use them.) Unfortunately that means if you want to see entire systems without mousing around, the only solution is to buy a bigger monitor.
Now, the scenario editor, on the other hand, is shamelessly overdue -- years overdue, actually.
C'MON AARON! GET ON THE BALL!!
(Does yelling help?) Seriously, lots of work-arounds have been suggested that (sorta kinda) give you some scenario-building capability. Do a search for "scenario."