That was a very, very good post.
I just got an insanely cheap copy of Resi 5 on 360 (5 quid!!!)
I share your misgivings with the series, but handled the switch from zombies in Code Veronica to the more action-orientated 'mutated villagers' scenario in Resi 4 with ease, I enjoyed the increased playability massively.
BUT, there was no fear there, nothing has ever been as scary as the 1st Tyrant sequence in Resi 1 for me, that was awesomely disturbing, in some visceral manner the Silent Hill games will never understand.
I think you want the Resident Evil games to go back to being scary, limited ammo, more danger, more low-key, and I applaud you for that.
I find the recent games
very playable, brilliantly playable, but have to agree that they almost seem like they are not Resi games.
If they could amalgamate the playability from the recent games with the fear factor of Resi 1 (and 2, at a stretch) then we are talking teh ultimate money shot, fuck the rest of this site. :thumbsup::bowdown: