Hi, scruffy,
I walked the Cele route at least 8 years ago, and it was just beautiful. I have never heard anything bad about this route from anyone who walked it. It goes through untouristed parts of France, along the Cele River, with a lot of ups and downs from river bank to high paths. I suppose that if you don't like going up and down, you may get frustrated by this route, but I also remember that I was walking with two Dutch pilgrims (Jan and Erna are you reading this?) who found ways to avoid the ups and downs by staying on the road. My feet don't tolerate asphalt well, so I stuck with the ups and downs.
I would have to look at my journal to give you the names of my "favorite" towns and their attractions, but I remember wonderful gites with great home cooked meals, unspoiled old towns, and relaxing afternoons by the river. If I am ever lucky enough to get back to the LePuy route, I would definitely take this variant.
Buen camino, Laurie