Rare made some of my favorite games. I loved Conker (even bought the Xbox Version and beat it twice), Killer Instinct, the Donkey Kong games, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, and Starfox Adventures. Rare has a style that makes games look friggin beautiful! My jaw dropped for DKC, DK64, KI, and SFA.
But I'm not sure I'd be too hyped for more 3D platformers, FPS's (not a genre 8 really enjoy), or fighting games that don't star Ryu. Rare of old may just be a relic of an older time. Maybe new Rare is doing what they need to be doing--trying to evolve. I admit, they haven't blown me away. I own (but haven't bothered to play) all of the Viva Pinata games, loved Kameo, and respect Kinect Sports. I still believe that Rare is a good asset for M$ and will be in the future, too.