I disagree - while it may be true that there are some who are complaining just because it's someone other than MP at the drum kit, just look at some of the individuals who are posting in this thread that have a problem with MM's sound. For example, both Kotowboy and KevShmev. Both of these guys has been very critical of MP and have welcomed MM with open arms into DT, yet they still are taking issue with the sound of MM's drums.
So it's not about MP not being in the band. It's about how MM's drums have been mixed, pure and simple.
Yes, of course there are folks with genuinely negative opinions about drum sound, mixing, etc. But that's not my point. My point is the recurrence of the discussion.
I'll illustrate it this way: DT releases a new album and there are some negative comments about how the bass have been mixed: "gosh, it's too low in the mix / I can't hear the bass!". How many times has this happened? It's not unusual, right? But doesn't this matter take on this proportion? It doesn't generate as much engagement and it doesn't last that long.
Overall, it will be virtually no commented until the next album.
Is it the same with the discussions regarding drum sound/drum in the mix? Not fucking way! How many times have I followed a discussion about "the drum sound on the DT" since MP quit? 100 times? 200? 300 maybe? I don't know, but enough.
Why the difference?
Two possibilities, in my view:
1) Bass ranks last in the "instruments I really care" list.
2) The former drummer's name is Mike Portnoy.
Possibly a drum sound that doesn't please bother you more than a bass sound that doesn't.
It is common for this to happen.
I wasn't satisfied with Dave LaRue's bass sound on JP's solo record or Tony Levin's bass sound on LT3.
Was there an argument here and there? Yes.
Lots of? Don't.
Has it passed? Already.
Discussions about bass sound, in general, are always like this, ephemeral and dispassionate.
Personally I believe that ignoring number 2 is a lot of innocence. The fact that MP left DT completely altered the fans' relationship with the band, on all levels. To me this is clear as water. And I have no doubt that this is fundamental for the discussion "drums on the DT" to come back every other day.
In general, it is not about music.