Too different and my expectations for the scale he set up are too big...
You'd be even more frustrated by Children of the Sky. Not only is it limited in scope (to Tines' World), but it leaves a bunch of plot threads unresolved, presumably for a sequel. :/
I liked the other two, but I stopped reading Children for exactly the reason you described.
I like all three of the novels in the series, but for dramatically different reasons and feelings.