What if Ryder was more mature?

Well, it's a bit hard to do a clean slate with an "experienced" guy.

I'll likely have some trouble aclimating to a young mindset (I turn 37 in a couple of days, but my daughter is 17 - and her mind is alien to me ), but we'll see where it goes.

The Ryders are actually closer to my age than I was to Shepard, back when I started playing Mass Effect and now...so no, not for me.

I also think it's a good thing that our Character is younger and inexperienced.

Shepard was an accomplished and recognized soldier. Best of the best, with recommendation and all that. Over the course of the OT Shepard goes from Hero to Legend.

Alec starts similar, he may not be as big as Shepard, but he's accomplished. He's a very big deal in the Initiative with his involvement in SAM and everything. I mean everyone recognizes the name Ryder. Now we're baby Ryder and have to step out of the shadow our father has cast.

Though I have to admit...the idea of playing an "old fart" would also be interesting. Some tough-as-nails been-there-done-that seen-it-all mofo with a raspy voice that sounds like whiskey and smokes. But I feel Andromeda wouldn't be the right kind of game for that type of protagonist.

But I like to play young

Ryder's dad is older than Hackett and Anderson, considering he was on Grissom's mission through the Charon Relay. That happens in 2149. The Eden Prime attack occurs in 2183, Hackett was born in 2134 and Anderson 2137. Hackett and Anderson were still kids when Ryder Sr went through the relay.

He is in 50s or 60s, depending on how old he was when he went through the Charon Relay. (and not counting the years in crysosleep)
Assuming he was 18 years old in 2149 he'd be around 54 when the Andromeda Initiative departs the Milky Way. (2185)

Perhaps, but inheriting a position due to blood relations is idiotic. As if it were medieval times again

taking a bunch of old people to a new galaxy is a bad idea. Even if everyone was 40 (peak age) that means that vast majority of the initiative would become pretty useless in the field in 20ish years. You'd then have to wait for kids to grow up to carry on the mantle.

The idea of taking 20ish year olds on this kind of mission is that they can carry the torch for a good 30 odd years before the new colonists can take over.

That's not really the vibe I got from the ten hour trial.  

High life expectations are due to top standards of care for those who can afford it. The codex states that many states are still slumming it 21st century style back on Earth. 

These high standards of care may not be available (right away) in Andromeda.

Have Ryder twins age been deduced yet?

I never wanted to replace everyone on the arks with 40 yearolds or older. But leadership, especially in positions like pathfinder should be more mature, experienced and certainly deep voiced. 

Alec was the pathfinder and fits that bill perfectly. Your character is there to learn from the pathfinder. A protegee even then cora was next in line.

No

Alec Ryder is so close from Shepard. It's just you telling: "Heh i want to play Shepard but i wanna do it in a sneaky way because i ddon't want people to see i'm regressive and refuse to move forward. Let's play the clone.

Any character N7, war hero that saves the day and break new ground anytime he/she opens his/her mouth is a big nono. Or else give us Shepard and admit we're all junkies to cult of personalities in general.

We may debate an other character than Ryder could have been better but Alec or any N7 badass: NO