Do I have to finish the 1st chapter to move on? From what I've read it looks like I do. I'm not sure I'll get through the river QTE which is quite early on so may have to give up on this game. I hate this sort of thing! Please please please will devs NOT put this stuff in an adventure game. I remember Broken Sword 3 using this kind of gameplay (a series I love) but I couldn't finish that game!
Unfortunately there are too many developers who think that if you have problems getting past what they think are "simple" QTE's and timed/action sequences, you have no business playing games. Learn who these developers are and avoid their games like plague. Don't worry about "supporting" them if they're making games you're not able to play.
Don't just buy games because they are labelled as "adventure games" because all sorts of games are being lumped under that umbrella, including platformers and teltale-style games where you have to make fast decisions and react quickly.
Check games out ahead of time, either by someone who shares your dislike of timed/dexterity/action sequences or check out YouTube playthroughs of the game. A great score doesn't mean much if it's from someone who gets past the same dexterity sequences in two seconds that are effectively dead ends for you.
"Sierra" is just a label now, and nothing to do with the original Sierra company that made the original King's Quest games and other games from the 1980's and early 1990's. The original Sierra was victim to a hostile takeover, which you can read about in an interview with Al Lowe here
http://www.nodontdie.com/al-lowe/The creep who took over the company didn't even have the money to buy it, yet managed to kill the company.