The funny thing is for me I loved the original opening, would have moved the Isle Of Skye into one of the dreams David is watching but the real crap starts with the briefing scene.

This. I was just thinking about this and had an idea. I'm really not keen on seeing all this text in a suposed dream sequence but why not keep Shaws dialogue - or some of it [from the quiet eye viral video] and combine it with footage from the Isle of Skye sequence - keeping any of that dialogue if / when needed. That would seem more dreamlike to me, kind of real but a mish mash of memories.

That would help in justifying the removal of the briefing scene since -

A - we've gotten a taste of Peter Weyland nice and early eslewhere

B - we get an idea of what these science geeks are into.

C - both Holloway and Vickers give out inaccurate info in the briefing.

D - the crew should know what's going on before they get there..

E - The Weyalnd hologram lies to the crew but wants them to trust him at the same time.

and the best part - the Hyper Sleep music from Alien could be used in the background.

I would probably go right from the Tedtalk to the initial space shot - with something like "X MANY YEARS LATER" onscreen then cut directly to David walking in and spying on Shaw dreaming. cue Jerry Goldsmith..