I have a friend (neither invented, nor a baal teshuva) who is something of an expert on the Hebrew language. He says that the Hasidic nusach, (ie: the Hasidic variation of the liturgy) was written by "someone who didn't speak Hebrew."
Unfortunately, I am not sufficiently attuned to the nuances of Hebrew to be able to evaluate that claim, but I do know enough about language to be able to tell that the language of the ashkenaz liturgy is more economical, and therefore more elgant, than it's Hasidic counterpart. Some examples:
Tika b'shofar godol Among the ashkenazim, this blessing of the amida ends "...and gather us together from the four corners of the world." Hasidim say, "...and gather us together from the four corners of the world to our land." As if God might take us... where? To Madagascar, instead?
Sim Sholom Ashkenazim end with "and let it be pleasing in your eyes to bless your people of Israel with mercy." Hasidim say "and let it be pleasing in your eyes to bless us and to bless your people of Israel with mercy." Because Hasidim aren't from among the people of Israel?
[More later]
