I like the new stuff I've seen, and allthough I kind of like the prerogative to stay with the Playbook's owner, it's probably better and more close to common practice to let the conversation deal.
I think probably my favorite thing about Apocalypse Word was Hx and how your playbook helped define you, the relationship between the others and even the others (to at least a minor extent).
"You left me bleeding once, and did nothing", "you've been beside me and seen everything I've seen" and "you've been with me since before" are not only profound statements, but they lend inspiration to evocative questions bringing the game and the game world further from the get-go.
I think the Skinners are really powerful, and define the untangible power of some entrancing personality in a world of crumbs, rust and gunsmoke.
"You're my friend, gunlugger", "you're my lover, Hocus... and Hardholder, you're in love with me, -1Hx"
I think this will get better, and I like that everyone will have to work for a living. (In our current game I think we're all mooching off the Harholder.)