I can empathize with your feelings on Alien Isolation. I had a mixed experience playing it and I don’t think everything works perfectly within the game. However, I don’t know if I would like to be able to save anywhere. I think I did have that feeling during some of the more frustrating points in the game (oh there’s this one particularly bad spot near the very end of the game…) but I also realize that the tension created by the same system employed made the survival aspect feel more imperative. The save points also made for a lot of redoubling of my steps which I also think is in the spirit of the first film. I think limiting save spots can lead to a lot of frustration but I do think they can work in a game’s favour. If I had been able to save anywhere in Alien Isolation I think I would have had less cause to find the Alien scary.
Unlimited saving can also lead to issues that hamper gameplay. I am generally for saving anywhere, but I sometimes abuse the ability when it is granted. You have no idea how much I abuse the quick save and load feature in Dishonored and Prey. I suppose that’s why it’s there, but I find myself less tolerant of mistakes and more willing to load and redo for every tiny misstep when I have the ability. I don’t know if that’s a boon or a crutch.