TWC wouldn't be successful if they were what we wanted them to be. Had they not stopped programming for the weather-saavy they would have gone bankrupt years ago. As much as we'd like them to 'return to their roots', they are in business to make money, not cater to an enthusiast minority. Their programming decisions are based on what is proven to attract the most viewers, not what will impress people like us. I don't like it, but that's the way it is. TV news viewership has been on the decline for a long time, so you can probably expect more of these types of moves to clamor for what's left of a dying industry.
This goes back to a brutal truth that needs said time and time again - 99% of people just don't care about storm chasing or weather like we do, and that is why TWC is they way they are. Weather is big business because people want to know what to wear to work or if they can have their barbecue on Saturday. No one but us cares about the hows or whys. Until we start paying for TWC's electric bill and staff salaries, it's not gonna change.
Case in point - how many chase DVDs did you sell last year? Doing what you love doesn't always pay your mortgage. You can't blame TWC for making concessions to stay alive in what has become an impossible business to be in.
A friend told me today, that TWC is "jumping the shark." If Ted McGinley is ever a guest host, I guess we will get our answer.