I was underwhelmed by the implementation of the QTEs in S3. QTEs have become a different beast in time, but I'm focused solely on their Shenmue role.
I do think they continued rightly the idea of QTEs for big fight moments (perhaps even better than the Don Niu fight, as it felt more practiced, thus satisfying), but I disliked three things (I mention all three not to repeat others' posts, but to stress the mix of problems, vs. just one):
a. Timing
They're too unforgiving, regardless of difficulty setting. I disagree in full with the suggestion that gamers "get slower" over time, so it's our fault for being in our 30s.* The Shenmue HD collection was the first game I played on my first Sony console, and the mental switch to their symbols vs. letters. I hardly remembered which button spared me from being slammed with a watermelon in the face in S2, but I had more time to react in S2 than S3, even once Playstation symbols grew familiar. The failures in S2 were stray, and there was no muscle memory at play.
b. Branching paths/options
I'm less concerned about this, esp. as I'd think S4 will likely be smaller, but the sense of "just get it right to move on" feels contrary to the reason they were implemented in the series in the first place. Not bad, but just "not quite Shenmue."
c. Shoehorning
While I didn't mind them in certain sequences, they often (not always, but often) felt like Chai's inclusion: inorganic, and for fan service. Imagine a scene in which you could bump into a Niaowu waitress or a Bailu kid and learn a secret, even if a one time chance. So too, they could be implemented in the side quests in an interesting manner: vs. screwing up one choice and ruining it all, maybe a sidequest could be completed if you manage a QTE.
I also agree with the idea of the CQTE returning, but only if the timing is balanced. I'm not saying Dreamcast perfect (just like some who demand "perfect Sonic physics" unreasonably) but something manageable.
*Edit: Obv. cognitive/motor functions can and do decline in time, but I mean that I'm skeptical of it being the chief excuse for so many of us thinking the S3 QTEs are harder.