Lots of fans do believe they know what's best for the band as they are saying, "The band should..." It doesn't make sense to admit they are disagreeing with the choices, but that the suggestions are not what they think is best. Of course people are suggesting what they think is best. That's what people do. Either the fans are making suggestions for what they think is best for the band, or are trying to sabotage the band with the suggestion, which is it? When people say, "They should not continue as STP," what is that sentiment based off of if not them thinking what is best for the band?
Fans disagreeing with these recent choices are in a sense disagreeing with the NEW changes and NEW direction of "STP" (despite STP being dead since 2013).
It's not about what fans think is best, it's more about fans not wanting to see something they loved for all these years be run into the ground by the leftover band mates who think they can do it all themselves.
How can the choice to move forward with STP ignore the music/legacy of STP? It actually is doing exactly the opposite. Continuing with something is not ignoring it.
Easy. If they continued on like Queen, and played shows with talented singers, highlighting the STP catalog, that could be considered honoring the band and it's legacy to an extent. But once they claim to want to continue making new "STP" records... that's where it falls apart.
Scott contributed more than any other single member of the band. He wrote practically every STP song, and was the voice of the band. He was a prolific singer/songwriter, and to think the others could duplicate that or do it themselves is absurd. Just the same as Scott wouldn't be able to duplicate their instrumentals or write the music like they could.
If the DeLeos/Eric died in an accident, or Scott fired them, do you really think Scott would continue on with a lesser band still calling himself STP like nothing has changed?
Their relationships with one another are irrelevant? Incorrect. It obviously takes a quality relationship between every member of the band to make quality music. How can their relationship be "irrelevant" when it was their bad relationship that cancelled tours, cancelled albums, and cancelled shows? Do you think Dean is saying the things he is now because their relationship was so good?
Their volatile relationship was part of who they are. Just like most relationships/partnerships, they all have their ups & downs... and in this case the end result was six STP albums. Sure, if things were better there could have been more, but the ups & downs made them who they were and contributed to the music. Hell, look at Scott's biography... plenty of ups & downs that contributed to his writing & singing (as well as the bad stuff too).
It's irrelevant in that you have to take the good with the bad.
You say, "Choices that entirely ignore the music & legacy of STP, in favor of money" And then you also say, "So rather than actually "moving on" and trying again on their own merits, they chose to live in STP's past." You cannot live in STP's past while also ignoring the music and legacy.
They're living in the past by playing the same old greatest hits nostalgic set list. They aren't doing it because they're passionate about playing those songs for the millionth time. They're doing it purely because it will net them more money than attempting another 'Talk Show', 'AoA', 'CheSTP', or any other new band they'd try.
They're selling out and going through the motions with whoever they can get to sing for them five nights a week.