[thejeff]

As one who rejected Ultima 8: I don't think I rejected it because it was too different. I think I just didn't like the changes. That sounds the same but isn't really. It was a long time ago, but from what I remember it played very differently. If I hadn't been fond of the previous Ultimas, I probably wouldn't even have tried it. Not because they changed my precious Ultima, but because it was a different style of game and not one that I liked.
It's a hazard of making a big change in a franchise. Some of those who liked the style of the original won't like the new style and many of those who didn't like the original won't bother trying the new one.