Atelier's in a bit of an odd place right now, I think.
When I said in my post about Escha and Logy that they attempted to merge styles, I mean it literally, beyond the more obvious more lenient time limits(4 months instead of 3) and easier tasks. You start the game off more traditional, but once you finish your Assignments you're given an entire year of open, free time to do whatever you like, just like Totori.
They're under pressure to evolve the series to keep people buying their games, but in doing so, while also expanding the fanbase, they're going to have to change something fundamental and, like Iris, it's bound to upset someone.