I don't mind two or three paragraphs when a scene is being started. It helps establish and set the mood of things. And in my experience not many people keep up three or four paragraphs for every reply throughout and entire scene. I believe there are times that many paragraphs are needed, but everytime? No, I don't think so.
I love introspective characters. I like knowing what the other character is thinking and how they are processing something. Characters that aren't at all introspective and don't 'share' their thoughts at all or rarely, frustrate me and I find myself getting bored with them.
I know I've read people who don't like the introspective writing because they say they can't respond to a character's thoughts, but you can. At least you can speculate on what you think the character is thinking, and in the end I think being introspective makes for a richer and deeper character. And it allows whoever you're playing against to get to know your character even better.