True, Geralt is not as swift as one would like .. but that might be a design choice. Ciri who you get to play from time to time is a lot more agile, the difference is huge.
Having said that, Geralt is usually swift enough. I've learned that if you time it right and use witcher signs properly, combat can be extremely fun, rewarding and spectacular too. Dispatching a horde of wolves/nekkers/drowners without getting hit once is perfectly possible, you just have to time the attacks.
The only aspect of combat that imo sucks are the fist fights - most are easy but some .... There's a fighter called Gorgeous George ( Snatch reference, in case there is someone alive who doesn't get it) that keeps handing me my a** as I can't seem to be able ti time the parry well enough and his ham like fists find their target all the time ...
I played SoM for a bit and while the pace of combat was better, it got .. boring after an hour. Don't really know why to be honest...I might give it a try after I'm done with the Witcher ... which won't happen anytime soon
Finally, as a long time card gamer, I'm simply in love with Gwent. last time I enjoyed a mini game so much it was Might and Magic 7 and their Arcomage. And Gwent .. it's one of those "easy to learn, hard to master" games and it's surprisingly robust - 4 factions each with 5 leaders to choose from and build a deck around, tons of cards and several interesting tactics. I wouldn't mind playing this as a regular card game, not only a virtual one (I believe it's going to come out, or already has).