If you don't wanna do full HD combos, but you want the cheaper Neomax, just do a normal-command normal (HD activate), Normal, Neomax. I know it still uses the HD bar, but I think it's worth it.
From my (Extremly limited) experience, I think it's quite alright that Neomax's take Full HD meter, just like it was alright that LDMs and HSDMs took modifiers like skill stocks, or low health. Some of these things are a SERIOUS game changer for those who know how to use them; You'd never wanna jump at Takuma or Hwa Jai again, and just about any approach/fireball/whiffed move on Maxima is hugely damaging. And forget doing ANYTHING that leave you open, when Kyo has his NM ready... Unless you're Leona. Baltic Launcher totally eats Kyo's flaming *Welcome to KoF!* invite, to my personal enjoyment.
Anyway, I shudder to think of the kind of combos people would come up with, if NM's didn't take drive cancel. 400 + damage NM into double Drive cancel juggle combos into EXDM / EX moves would get pretty ridiculous. Some characters like Takuma and Ash might even come up with double NM combos, if such a thing was a feature in the game.
EXDM's are plenty strong by themselves anyway. EX move into EXDM basically is a custom Neomax with many characters, and some EX moves make such large openings, that they don't even demand super-cancelling.
I have to say, I'm rather happy with the way the systems are set up now. It seems to allow you to get similiar damage in a multitude of ways, without making one blatantly more powerful than the next.