I do not believe that commercial success of a model should be equated to horological excellence. Many models can have astounding sales due to ambush-marketing coupled with short term trends. But they lose their relevance over time and have limited nostaligia value as well. The true classics endure time and that is what has made the brands last for decades and centuries.
I am sure that AP will manage to find niche buyers for the BlackPanther. But IMHO this model does not give them a seat at the high-horology table.
They did commit a faux-pas with Code 1159 and ought to have learned better since then.