You're saying he must be technical because we love DT's music? That does not make a whole lot of sense.
You're right, it doesn't at all, and obviously there's some misunderstanding of my intent. Let me rephrase myself: His excellent vocal technique has allowed him all this time to contribute his part of the music we love. Isn't this true of all the band members? That doesn't mean that a singer has to be technical in order to do that, but with him, and the high-level music he sings, it has always been the case.
Also, I do not agree he is improving on this tour relative to any tour in the past 10 years.
You're entitled to your opinion, of course, and I am entitled to respectfully disagree!
You are kidding yourself if you think he is on an upward trajectory.
Is he? I hope he is. Only he, and his teachers/coaches, really know that for sure. I just hear less in this recent tour of the problems he's displayed since The Astonishing.
To your point, the voice is a physical instrument; given that age takes a toll on everyone he is fighting an uphill battle.
I've explained many times why "age" all by itself is not the issue everyone thinks it is. Yes, it does affect the voice, but 1. not in the ways that everyone is thinking/saying, and 2. not at his age *yet*. And even as he gets older, it's more about the way those changes are handled. There are great opera singers who sang well at 70 and 80. If they can do it, then I have every faith in James.
The best case outcome for the next 10 years - if we are so lucky - is that the performances stay the same.
And if that actually happens, then, it's his choice! Vocal decline is not some inevitable thing. Maybe if things do not change, it's because he's doing nothing. Or he is just happy to stay as things are. But I really doubt that coming from him.
not a promise of a miraculous turn around in the future.
No, not "miraculous". Such things take a lot of work. Please don't underestimate this. As much practice as it takes for an instrumentalist, it takes for a singer - and then, on top of that, extreme management of all the other factors (health, etc) that can affect how the voice sounds. Get one less hour of sleep, and you might not sound as good the next day. Eat something that causes acid reflux, and, wham - unclear cords the very next night. And, catch a head cold? Forget it. Everything, I mean everything, affects the voice.
This is not some blind hope that a miracle would happen. This is my opinion as someone who understands how the voice works having faith in my #1 vocal hero that he will put in the work and do the right thing.