I'm with Jack and Vizslas. There will always be those that believe only an exact replica is worthy of any name association with an original gun. And then there are those (some of the same crowd) that never accept the replicas and seem to put them in the catagory of cheap imitations. Those guys can always buy originals, no one is twisting their arm to buy a new version.

I think it should be thought of/treated as a new gun that honors the original designers, but is indeed the new maker's gun to change as they see fit.

Maker's can't please everyone. They should please themselves, IMO. If that pleases enough customers for the intent of the makers, it's successful for them. If some purists aren't satisfied, they should make their own gun in their vision.