The EF had much more of a supernatural emphasis. There was a recognition that, during this Mass, Heaven was somehow participating in our midst, and that we were somehow participating in the ongoing liturgy of Heaven. People applaud the increased “participation” of the laity under the OF, as if verbalizing were the only kind of important participation.
But in the EF there clearly is more “entering into” the Sacrifice of the Mass with the Heart, mind, and emotions. In the OF there is more lay verbalizing, but for most not an appreciation that there is something crucial going on here, something that touches Heaven and Earth like nothing else. Of course every valid Mass does that, but the EF makes it clearer, more explicit to the laity that this is happening. It is not less participating, but a different kind of participating.