Ok, I didn't know it was intentional. The first drop in Candycane lane I find not so bad, you fall in the first time and then you know it. I would not have built such a challenge directly into the first level, but otherwise I see no problem with it.
I think people are just used to the platforms starting in such a way that the player can run straight through, as long as he doesn't make any mistakes. I'm thinking of games like Crash Bandicoot.