I understand fully what you're saying Dave. Priorities change, other things become more important, and you move on. Back in the 80's I was a completist, I had to have at least one of everything, even if I didn't particularly like it. Then when things started to go neon in the early 90's, I got to the point where I decided there was no way I was going to buy stupidly coloured or designed toys that I would never have a use for (like you, I'm firmly in the "realism" camp).
Then when the TRU exclusives came out later in the 90's, I thought they were okay and happily bought them all.
After that came the dreaded T-crotch, which drove me away from Joe toys altogether. I spent my "Joe" money on other things like Nascar die cast models, video games, and got back into my long-time hobby of collecting Civil War relics.
When the new sculpt stuff hit it took me a little while to get into them, but Hasbro improved them over time and today I count many of them amongst my favourite figures.
Now, you know my thoughts on the 25th figures, so there's no need to go there. Obviously I don't but them, spending my money instead on convention stuff (until this year, anyway!), foreign exclusives, and some selected army building. But I have to say, even if I did like the 25th figs, there's no way I'd be spending money on the endless repaints of the same half dozen characters over and over (way to kill the line, Hasbro!).
The movie stuff hasn't grabbed my interest, so I'll just continue along picking up the odd nice piece here and there, and spending my disposable cash on my other hobbies.

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"The future's uncertain and the end is always near." - The Doors "Roadhouse Blues".