I think that the bow was used to passable effect in the moblin shootout sequences in TP. I also think Doom neglects that the bow is very useful against most enemies, just not necessary.
I think that alternate forms are a BAD idea given what we are complaining about in the zelda formula. Though it will take me a minute to explain quite why.
I think that if Zelda wants to keep having Link ride on transportation the key is to ensure that this mode of transportation is a useful constant, and not in any way feel like it limits my choices. If I am going to be crusing around the ocean on the king of red lions, I had better be well able to fire arrows, look through my telescope, at the very least not constantly have to use the sail to keep the boat moving.
If I am going to be riding around with Epona, Epona had better not be useless for more than half the game while I am a fucking (badass) wolf. I'd better be damned good at getting on and off (haha) so that the transition between walking and riding isn't jarring. I also want destroying enemies on horseback with my arrows and boomerangs and bombs to be just as possible as on foot.
Riding a mode of transportation should augment my mobility and versatility rather than strictly limit it. Note: Haven't played the DS zelda games.
While alternate forms are used to great effect in MM, it seems like they run the risk of being just as restrictive and frustrating as the transportation schemes we're complaining about. As cool as being a wolf was initially, the wolf form became stale towards the late game. Sections where I was forced to use the wolf form seemed obnoxious to me because I traded in virtually all of my normal toolset for nothing worthwhile in exchange (except perhaps to see more of Midna). More forms seems like inviting an even more limited array of tools with substantially less versatility involved. Or worse, dungeons where the reward is simply a rehash of something you've already gotten for your new form, e.g. the bow being a replica of the slingshot in OoT.
Finally, while I would like tools to be of more use in terms of exploration or problem solving (esp. "solving" moblins. Fuck those guys) outside of the dungeon that they're found in, my instinct says that even if this were done, to great effect, Yahtzee would still complain about other weapons having no point, echoing everyone else. I haven't played enough games lately... I'm not sure what makes weapons and tools unique, useful, and increase in usefulness as you explore their potential without encouraging the kind of over-specializing in one tool that makes people annoyed when using a different set of tools is required, or worse forget that the other tools are at all useful.