Never got why MM was singled out for lacking MP's feel and passion or for being machine-like. I mean, this is the same band that kicked out Sherinian to bring in JR -- but that's another discussion.
Man, I'm going to miss him. Tracks like AVFTTOTW, Illumination Theory and Pale Blue Dot are probably the best displays of drumming I've heard in DT. Not to disparage MP, who is an incredibly gifted musician in his own right, but MM's otherworldly.
There's a silver lining in all of this, though. MP's on-stage presence and enthusiasm is second to none, and he's going to help draw huge crowds and provide an amazing live experience. While I don't think he can replicate every single MM track, I'd love to hear his take on songs like Fall into the Light and Breaking All Illusions.