While this does look like a change of direction, it was a badly need addition to Ancestry. Up until the last few months Ancestry was principally transcribed databases and images of Census records. In the last few months Ancestry has added many images of the original documents.
When it came to document images, Family Search had them beat, hands down. Family Search still has more images, but with the recent additions Ancestry is trying to correct a deficiency in their system.
Transcribed databases are OK for the while you are structuring your family, but fail to provide the proof of the relationships you find. The only way to prove relationships is to view the original (images) wills, Probate Records, deeds, etc. (I wish there were more online deeds on FamilySearch and Ancestry, but the local governments websites area improving)
I know of one case in particular where the transcription was in error and miss leading. Seeing the original image of the Will, solved a lot of questions.
While I would like to see improvements in FTM, ie Multiple active window for different people in the database, basic improvements in some of the chart functions, etc. I do welcome that addition of the many document images.