I may be out of line and I do not want to offend anyone but there are other gun makers and if you do not like what S&W is building buy some other brand. I am not trying to oversimplify it but why just complain about something you can not change. Life is too short to worry about something you do not need to be involved with. I am sorry if you are disappointed with the direction S&W has gone with but what are we accomplishing by kicking a dead horse. Buy an old gun, have it brought to the level you want and enjoy your life.
Be safe, Frank.