On balance, yes - all of your examples are correct assessments. I'm not disagreeing with you. I even said I think our parks will take the DCR route, and so they should.
What I meant was, it's sad we won't see our parks take that big leap again. Sure, DCR is an incredible coaster, but what i'm trying to say though is that TOT, despite its many flaws and limitations, is what really put Dreamworld on the map. Despite the carnage it wreaked on the park landscape, it was the dawn of a new era for Dreamworld, and something that symbolised the park for over a decade.
Granted, they lacked anything else really to take over the title - Cyclone was a worthy addition to the park lineup but not anything special, and the blue fire clone will be a worthy successor to the flagship title at the park.
My sadness comes from the knowledge that anything our parks get will, pound for pound, be a copy of something else already rideable overseas. that's all.