It's the dome-free Aliens look that I can't stand.
Forward-facing eyes are the trait of a predator, as it facilitates the depth perception necessary to launch an attack. But sideways-facing eye-sockets, as featured in Aliens, are for prey (or at least something that doesn't need to hunt), as they give a surround-view perspective that makes it easier to spot threats. I'm aware the side openings are representative of the back of the skull in the Alien design, but without the rest of the skull shape, the first set of side openings looks like the eye sockets.
The instinctive impression you get from the Aliens 'drones' is that they're insects or robots. Not terribly threatening - until the jaws start working, at least.
I'm kinda with Local Trouble on the skull, but... there are worse things in the series. Even one of the best entries in the series.