Yeah, it is crazy to drop a song that almost no one in the audience is reacting to, and then insert a song that crowds go nuts for. What insanity!!
The thing also, that I myself feel, is Dream Theater setlists have been focusing on songs that fit the overall vibe of the new album or tour. And when songs have an odd setlist position, that can affect the flow and make people lose interest.
Not everyone who sees Dream Theater is a music fan, and not everyone is a big fan, like us in this forum. They rely on touring and merchandise for Band Income, and need to get as many seats as possible to make profit from each show. The reason ticket prices have been so high, is due to the fact that the production of bands, in general, has really approved and are really neat and pretty, but that costs money and it's not cheap.
So you either, make more money and can do more Band Related things by playing a setlist and songs that generate people in the seats, or play to your dedicated fans only.
The thing also, is, that JP doesn't have a "Fan Mentality" like MP does. JP has that business mentality and this affects how the band is ran.
I've said before, MP did a lot for the band, because he still is a music fan at heart, and still has that "Fan Mentality". It's why he personally goes out of his way to do things that the fans will enjoy, as he also enjoys these things, he was the one to suggest making The Absolute Universe a double album, he went out of his way to even make a combined Ultimate Version.
And now since he is gone, that fan mindset is gone and these things the fans loved are now gone and Dream Theater are now like your regular band. These things that MP did is why I say that Dream Theater fans were spoiled, because MP went out of his way to give these gifts to the fans, that no band has thought of doing, or wanted to put in the effort to do.
It's also why I ask, did you really like the band, or was it just all the perks that kept you interested in the band?...
I myself, love the band and their music. I, as a fan of music and Dream Theater, am just along for the ride. And this goes for any band I follow or go to see.
I have my issues with bands that do not play anything else besides their hits, and is a very big reason why I do not like festival shows, and bands touring with a big lineup. I also, see the reason why though. And I, see this as an effect of music education and understanding. As many other places in the world actually incorporate music into their cultures and therefore will have many styles of bands and music being enjoyed by the masses. Japan is a great example of this, based on their audiences, and the style of music their people release and listen to. Just look at Anime, and it's music.
I just wish bands wouldn't and shouldn't care about what songs they play live. If people don't react to it, so what. Not everyone reacts to music the same. Now if they boo, then I'll understand the song being dropped.
Sadly, I tend to enjoy the songs that bands happen to not even bother with live.
But I still go see the band, because I like the band and want to see them play their songs live, and to me, it really doesn't matter what they play. It's why I waited to look at the setlists, as much as I could, and was surprised by the songs when they were played.
The availability of being able to look at the setlists, is also why, I think, people do not go to the shows, because they apparently care about what songs the band plays. When I look up the sets, I say oh cool, or oh, well ok, guess I'll be jamming out those songs again, maybe they'll do something different, but these songs never sound the same, as each member can have off or on days, and that can affect how the song is played.