The last 4 kms that were cut from the end of SS5 Dafni, are mainly gravel, barely some meters of old worn asphalt.
I think you underrate this stage.
It has quite a lot fast places for an Acropolis.
Also before the cut of last 4 kms it had many places at the end, easily accessible from spectators from the main asphalt road above the stage.
I do not know the reason of cut.
But this way you make the spectators to avoid parking at the aforementioned main asphalt road, because the new stage end is too far away.
Also the current stage end is a few hundred meters before the stage reaches the Monastery of Profitis Ilias.
Maybe the priests did not want the noise of a fully attacking rally car.

But generally I agree that Saturday's stages are a bit of a surprise.
Especially SS9 - SS12 Perivoli, despite it has beautiful landscape, it is boring.
The other 2 are not bad, but without many places to spectate.
At Saturday we usually expect.
Pavliani.
Gravia (the downhill version of Drosohori included last year).
Karoutes (the whole original downhill stage, not the uphill portion of it that is included in the recent extended version of Bauxites).
Even Kaloskopi or Stromi (is one stage but the name depends on where the start is) has something beautiful and classic to provide, the fir tree forest with Gkiona mountain at the background.
None of them are included and I really miss them.

The best stage maybe is Livadia.
But I would really like after 5.8 kms to continue to the west, out of Koronia village, at the current asphalt road that used to be gravel at old Evangelistria version.
This asphalt road of about 6 kms is currently evacuation and spectator access road.
Since I drove this part recently, I can assure you that it had so many places for spectators and also fast and flowing spots. With gravel tyres on asphalt, would have been fantastic.
Now the stage at 5.8 turns to the south and after 6 more not spectacular kms meets again with the old version of the stage until the finish to the fir tree forest of Elikonas.
Generally a very good stage with variety of road sections, accesses, spectators spots and landscapes.