Personally, I don't really like the hue shift. It's kind of jarring in my mind, since I am used to using gradients more subtly.
I never really thought about the spacing between balloons in a group message between different people (is that how it works?), and if that's so, then I guess that makes sense. Though, the spacing still is odd looking to me-- maybe I'm just claustrophobic.
I agree the spacing could be adjusted a hair. I don't care for several of the gradients either, but I don't see them as lighting so mich as someone's idea of decoration. Note that the non gradient icons are mainly white or black backgrounds.
I never really thought about the spacing between balloons in a group message between different people (is that how it works?), and if that's so, then I guess that makes sense. Though, the spacing still is odd looking to me-- maybe I'm just claustrophobic.