I agree. COE seemed fundamentally different because of the extreme nihilism. There just wasn't any hope at all, and it was particularly bleak since we "just" lost 2 main characters in Exit Wounds. Now look at Waters of Mars, which just stepped back from the brink of sending its main character around the bend into megalomania and had one character commit suicide. (Although I liked it, I'm just kind of agreeing with your point about RTD and Who.)

Pre-COE TW always had an element of fun to it, even though it dealt with a lot of very dark issues. Part of that was Jack. And the show improved in S2 when it added more humor. Then RTD decided to destroy Jack, effectively, and the show as we knew it.

Solitary, you make a lot of interesting points, I'll probably have to return to ponder further.