I totally agree with everything you said!
I have only been to the event two years (24 and 25) but followed it online for MANY years. 24 I was still terrified about what I was getting myself into to and had only planned on 2 nights. That was a mistake! I had the best time I have ever had at any theme park that year! It was just incredible. Was blown away by what they were able to pull off in a year. I didn't go into every house (and boy do I kick myself still for skipping Halloween and G&G) but it was fun! Then of course last year I corrected my mistake and went for a full weekend WITH express! Did every single house a ton of time...50 total! Went solo for 25 and still had an insanely fun time. Doing the "lights on" tour was just the icing on the cake.
Now, I have booked 11 nights at Cabana Bay already so I can attend two full weekends this year (solo again)! Regardless of what houses get made, if they have an Icon or not, or even if TWD comes back, I will still have a blast. There is something, for lack of a better word, magical in the air during the event...way more than the magic you feel at WDW. Are there IP's and other things I would like to see? Of course! I want a Krampus house sooo bad! But, even if that IP is not present, I will not let that ruin the whole event. I say, be grateful we get an event of this scale each and every year and appreciate it while it last. Like all good things, it will end at some point so enjoy it!