Makes me remember the scene in DOA2 where Tina throws a big rock to Leifang, showing her power,and Leifang counters her just by breaking it with her palm/hand after saying that she doesn't know anything about power. You are quite right my friend.
I don't think Tina has changed that much. One could say her character has become stagnant, even. Every time she always aim for something higher and higher. Now she is running for governor... It would be interesting if she lost and we would see her reaction to losing.
One could say her winposes got more daring but 1) it's in-character 2) she does it to show it off. It's sexy and sexual but nothing that shocking. She never really talked about sex and for all we know she could be like "AH GURL, YOU HAFTA WAIT BEFORE MARRIAGE!", cuz, u know, stereotypical americans.
I think the only one who changed too much is Lei Fang. She's less mature. She was supposed to be the stubborn and mature girl with an attitude. Now she's just a stupid stalker.
Story mode in general is embarrassing, even with a lot of good momments. Kasumi is absent for the entirety of it having no development whatsoever, ayane is just hayate's sidekick now, hayate is just a jobber like always, ryu barely does anything. Tina and Bass having their problems solved is one of the good parts, or eliot's training...