@chasereis
I don't know what that colon means, if you're referring to me tagging you in my reply, I did. If you were offended at my initial snark, I apologize. Nice to meet you too.
I'm just gonna cut right to the chase: whatever your problems with the ideas, the validity and merit of Morrison's concepts are not being brought into question here. It's whether or not they brought something new to the table. Your claim was that Morrison's stories were 'trite', to define: 'overused' and 'lacking originality'. I listed all of the new ideas that he brought to the X-Men mythos, many of which are still in use today and have had an overall lasting affect on the franchise. He really did put the 'New' in 'New X-Men', and if this is your idea of 'trite', I'm genuinely curious as to what you consider to be new and original.
Just for the sake of argument, I'm going to address your opinions with my own feedback. For the issue of the school's public revelation putting the children in danger, bear in mind that this is post-Genosha. As in mutants have just suffered a tremendous blow to their population. And as a result, the school revealing its existence, is the next step to improving mutant-human relations during this time. I.e. not hiding in the shadows, but being open enough to allow the media in and opening X-Corp offices for mutant refugees. This is the whole point of the New X-Men run: progress - and Professor X himself notes that trust is what creates acceptance, and that hiding away was playing by 'human rules', not mutant ones. As for the characters, we're not talking about 'Forearm' here. We're talking about Quentin Quire and Fantomex, characters that you still see frequenting the X-franchise today and whom many readers do recognize. When was the last time a memorable X-character was created in a run? Anyone still remember Armor? How about Ord of the Breakworld?
If your complaint about the E-Gene is because we never see mutants becoming the dominant species (an unrealistic wish, on that note), put the blame on Bendis - who instituted House of M, thereby eliminating Morrison's idea. Within the context of New X-Men itself, the E-Gene does serve its purpose, being the whole reason for the Genoshan genocide as well as pushing the school to open their doors and embrace mutant culture (see the Testament issue). Secondary mutations give an added explanation to Beast's condition and for other mutants to develop new powers, not to mention giving us Emma Frost's iconic diamond skin. As for 'secondary mutations causing the mutant-human rift to be further apart', you're missing the whole point of Morrison's run. His run was filled with grotesque mutants (see: Special Class), but that was the lesson he was trying to illustrate: that no matter how different, peaceful coexistence was an option beyond the superficial physical changes.
As for Weapon Plus, Wolverine's past was just a small fragment of the idea that Morrison expanded upon, an entire program developed to creating super-soldiers. He also tied Captain America to the concept, and both Fantomex and the Stepford Cuckoos are a result of it. It wasn't a simple retelling, he was building on Wolverine's origin and changing it into something bigger. I don't understand what your beef with Morrison having Phoenix Jean die is. Is it because the idea has been used before? Or is it because you see it as some personal petty move on Morrison's part? I view it as being Scott moving on from the old to the new (his relationship with Emma), a running theme in the entire run.
And we can't have been reading the same run. You're telling me that Cyclops dominated the book? The only arc where he had the most page-time was the Weapon Plus arc, perhaps. If you want a main character for the run, try Professor X or Jean, both of whom have far more appearances than Cyclops. Scott was in it as much as Hank or Logan, and the story did feel like a team book.
You have also yet to address your feelings regarding the run exploring 'mutant culture'. One of the most fascinating aspects I thought was of Morrison going beyond 'superheroes' and truly exploring the idea of mutants as a subculture. Cyclops said that they were dressed as heroes because Professor X thought humans would fear them less if they looked like a concept they understood. There are references to mutant bands, mutant fashion designers, mutant drugs; Jean's speech especially makes note that they are offering the world not just superheroes, but also mutant artists and thinkers. Mutants are considered to be the 'cool minority', with even ordinary teenagers being attracted to them. I thought it was a great, original way, to expand the franchise by looking at the entire concept of 'mutants' on the whole, not just heroes vs villains.
If I can be frank, if this is your argument as to why you consider Morrison's run 'trite', most of your complaints come across as surface-deep. Any attempts to expand upon ideas in the mythos you seem to consider 'unoriginal', and any new ideas are just readily dismissed without even considering their context.
As for my drawings, I appreciate you looking into them, and the advice as well. I'll keep the lighting in mind for my next posting.
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