The HD Tracks version of DT is a not a sonic failure. The CD version, it's fine, because it's very listenable in listening environments that are more commonplace nowadays (that is, on a commute, in your workstation, in a coffee shop, while working out, while in the car, etc.), which I think is the reason why they went with that compressed sound that could break through the environment noise. It does not work well in quiet environments, though, so the HD Tracks version is the one that's built for that.
I can listen to the full album of the CD version of DT at full volume in outdoor environments (not with in-ears but with my ordinary earphones). Even did it back to back a couple of times. Never got a headache or listening fatigue.
The vocal dissenters are really just very vocal and push their opinions as facts, or present their numbers as some sort of consensus. But the production of DT the album is not really that bad, it's not the lowest of low, etc. But it's the way in this forum, just like in other online forums. The more vocal you are, the more hyperboles are used, the more legitimate your opinions are.
Anyway, for the next album, I hope they would try to experiment with a less compressed sound that would still work well in outside environments where music is mostly consumed nowadays. The Haken mix in The Mountain might be ok. Even the ToT mix is ok with me.
Also, four more production wishes:
1. Better snare sound that catches the subtleties in the playing so that the ghost notes can be heard. BTFW shows that it makes a lot of difference.
2. For cymbals, specially the rides and hi-hats, not to be buried in the mix.
3. A deeper bass sound. The trebly bass in the DT album is not bad, it's very in-your-face and catches attention. But I prefer the bass providing more bottom.
4. A more pronounced keyboard sound. It's part of the reason why I like TLG much morre in BTFW than in DT.