Like you I like to see how a brand evolved through times, an old one like Vacheron or Patek, or something recent like Lange or Richard Mille.
Some are not much interested from what was done before.
It is important for me, not to "betray" what makes the brand. Lange means to me a german tradition with a fantastic finish, with classic design. And they never betrayed that which is the most important to last.
I agree with you who have lived the first years, it is difficult to give the same feeling that the L1 or Datograph gave when they were presented, a real earthquake.
However they didn't make big mistake. They just replaced the watches following the fashion (sadly bigger case etc) and still respecting their tradition (design, finish).
What was great on the first pieces is the feeling, much subjective though, that they did "better" than the other, and on the last years I have this impression that they are "among" the other...
I think the Zeitwerk did really well recently but a masterpiece doesn't come every year.
They have settled among others high end brand. But the minute repeater and/or sonnerie is still missing. They really have to give this piece one day !
cheers
Francois