Your first paragraph is (sort of) spot on. If past years are anything to base it on - which they are - then it will definatly improve as we go through October. Seems like the closer it is to Halloween the more involved and the more excited the scareactors are. Last couple years it was almost a completely different event when I went in week 3 or 4 compared to opening night. Not only do the scareactors get more involved, but Universal changes the houses as well (nothing extreme, but small stuff suchs as relocating scareactors or possibly adding more).
My complaint with Blood Masquerade is that it's TOO small. It's nuts. Like three props and 6 scareactors, and a 100ft walk. Lame. Harvest of the Souls just needs more manpower, and Deadtropolis isn't bad at all.