Appreciate the honesty. I have been looking closely to other designers reels and notice they show pieces longer so you get understand what they have made and can actually do. I take it when you say "nothing more than camera pans", you mean there is no actually animation (especially the 3D), but its more just constructed objects. If that's so, I completely agree with you and need to spend more time making personal projects because the place I work at isn't cutting it right now. With unrealistic deadlines and me being the only mograph designer, I add the sparkle to at least make it appealing some what. But I agree with you 100% on learning the fundamentals because you can never fail with them.
My question to you is, which pieces do you personally think I should take out and which ones do you think should stay?