Venus, I totally agree with what you write, with the exception that I can also really enjoy tough puzzle games, plotless, dry puzzle games. But then they should really declare themselves as puzzle games and not try and portray some shadow of a plot, which only takes away from their quality, if you ask me.
I think in Rhem it's almost clear that he hardly wanted to mess with the plot, it's almost a red herring, hardly serves as a motivation.
Sure, sometimes there are letters and strange Characters popping, but they're really sublime, and no one really cares who they are :-)
(wasn't the case in Myst - there I was always attached to the plot, even though it reveals itself slowly - which is why I like Myst a lot more, cause as you said, it ideally for me combines puzzles and plot).

I didnt enjoy Gray Matter at all - I just didnt feel involved with it, I wasnt absorbed in the story line, I didnt connect with the characters.
I found it exceedingly dull and was bored out of my mind - although I did persevere right to the end.
I'm glad some did enjoy it but obviously it wasnt the right game for me

I've just recently started Grey Matter, now in Chapter 3 where you play Styles.

I am enjoying the game, and the magic tricks don't bother me at all. (though so far they have been fairly easy to figure out).

I admit the characters don't grab me the way Gabriel and Gracie did. I especially can't seem to get into the Styles character, as he seems a bit 'dry'.

I am enjoying the storyline, and I'm glad to be playing another Jane Jensen game again, after a long absence.

Any idea if she has any new ones in the works?

Well, she keeps mentioning having a few scripts for GK4 but there are terrible rights issues...
And I think she would like to do a GM sequel if it sells well... unfortuntaly, I don't think it has.

She's working with Phoenix Online Studios on Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller. If they could do a Kings Quest series (Silver Lining).... who knows, maybe they'll take on Gabriel knight some time.

Sorry to say that I agree with all those who weren't keen on Gray Matter. I'm one who started the game, wasn't keen so left it while playing other games instead, picked it up once more but then was so bored I haven't finished it.

Mind you, to be fair, it's probably not a good idea to abandon a game after the first chapter or two, so often if one perseveres one will find that the game actually does improve as it progresses.

My main problem with it is to me it's lacking in atmosphere and I really can't feel any empathy for any of the characters, whereas the GK games grabbed me from the start with both storyline, characters, music and of course atmosphere and I've played and replayed those 3 GK games many times, admittedly not recently.

As for the magic tricks - I felt they were boring - but again, maybe I shouldn't even be commenting since I haven't finished it.

That would be fantastic. Here's hoping.