Who cares?  I play Zelda because I have fun playing Zelda, not because it's the best at XYZ. 

Where other companies focus on competition, Nintendo focuses on fun.

As long as it doesn't have the kiddie animation of Wind Waker I'm down.

I would rather play Twilight Princess than Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, if that's what you're asking.

Oh I forgot to mention that I think the pacing of the game should be changed too...

It shouldn't be look for dungeon key (fetch quest), complete dungeon, get story bit, wash rinse and repeat for 9 dungeons. It is far too predictable as it is now.

I'm not saying that they should change the core of what Zelda is: Exploration, Enemy Types, Characters, Hearts, Dungeons, Bosses, The Master Sword etc. but I do think it needs a big change. BTW, I have played every Zelda to date to completion. Even the handheld ones.  I just think it is starting to get stagnant and feel that it needs to be more cinematic and grandiose.

Oh well see my post about changing the pacing as well..  But I see your point that these are logical steps.  But then again, there seems to be quite a bit of resistance to doing anything but another OoT with better graphics and a new gimmick...

I agree that it does need a change in this area but most of your previous list is comprised of equally predictable tripe.

Well, I think that a series should have features that never change in order to maintain its identity.

It's obvious why Nuts and Bolts got panned since it deviated too far off the standard formula and not in a good way.

Changes to the series can be well received (RE4) but it carries a big risk of it to be looked down on. Hence there shouldn't be any complaints about Ninty being risk averse.

Well what would you suggest as ways to make changes that are non-invasive?   They seem to have painted themselves into a corner at this point.  If they change the game completely like making it an MMO or something there will be cries of outrage and if they keep it the same, there will be cries of outrage.  Keeping it the same may be easier but eventually people will get tired of playing it.  They already tried changing the core mechanic quite a bit in Zelda 2 and Majora's Mask and people complain to no end about those. All my suggestion are things to make the game have a grander scale, more interactivity.

On the contrary, I find most of the Zelda/gaming community to be quite eager for the series to move forwards, myself included. The issue with most of your suggestions is that are either a) dependent on the series staying the same or b) totally against the themes of the franchise. Stuff like 'steam punk hyrule' basically is 'another OoT with better graphics and a new gimmick...'. Your comments on pacing is fair, but what you said about it basically amounts to 'it should be different' and as such is so vague that it a pretty much useless comment. If your going to make a bunch of outlandish claims in where most of them depend on the gameplay being the same and then proceed to state that they should change the Dungeon/Item/Boss formula, then you better have an idea which escapes this progression and allows all your previous ideas as well as retain the Zelda style or people (quite rightfully) arn't going to take you seriously.

It can be whatever it wants except first person game.