Thankfully, they stopped immediately with the confessionals. It did not work at all. And I honestly thought it was a doll at first. I still sometimes keep thinking that as it's easier than knowing it was a real dog.
They do more IY1 stuff in the later episodes but it's clearly not the focus anymore and right now they are hot on the giant ceramic pot game.
I'd agree that IY2 is lacking because the show isn't in the community at all. Atleast with IY1 they were regularly out and about in the community helping. And all the farming ETC had a goal / point. I mean, otherwise we'd never have had Road Lee?
I don't think IY2 does. Really, you should just take 15 from the episode number, and thats how many "real" eps there are.
But it's definitely better than it was.