I think it's fair to have discrete save points in an action game. It is a common characteristic of japanese games, and makes them more appealing speed runs, and feats of skill.

Perhaps the problem is more one of expectations. Perhaps the gui should make it clear in the dungeon that zelda is reverting to the 'save point' rather than 'save anytime' model.

As an aside. I grew up on the c64, where only slow paced adventure games had a save anytime feature. Most action games you had to play from the start of the level, or had level codes. The first game I played where the save anytime feature really killed it was wolfenstein 3D. Day 1 was galking at the amazing graphics. Day 2 was figuring out I could complete the game easily by saving all the time, including when fighting big robotic hitlers. And id even had save anytime in there platform games (commanderkeen, etc). I notice you attribute the american consumer focus on 3D graphics over gameplay to id software. I believe their greater disservice to the american gaming community was proliferation of 'save anytime' for even the most actiony of games. You need to choose the save mechanic that suits your game.