Steve,
I agree to a point, but what you're talking about is just adding "do-dads" to an old design. Product development over the years is more concerned with making things like frame geometry, steering systems, power systems, metallurgy, vehicle electrics, etc. better than the previous generations. This is how the "next generations" are born. Upgrading to newer technology is absolutely necessary if Honda is to remain competitive in a world market. I truly believe that the next generation GL series will be much better than current production. Imagine if Honda had just kept on perfecting the old 1500 series Gold Wings to the point where they were bullet proof and the 1800s had never been born. They'd be light years behind where they are today.
Years ago, Danny DeVito made a movie called "Other Peoples Money" in which he described that once upon a time there must have been numerous companies in this country making buggy whips. So good in fact that (along with a dwindling market) they put all other buggy whip manufacturers out of business. He went on to say that if you had owned stock in that company you would have eventually lost your ass because technology was moving past the point of even needing buggy whips anymore - a perfect example of not keeping up with technology. The current GL series Hondas were given a facelift for the 2012 model year but still basically used the same frame, drivetrain, suspension, etc. since 2001 I believe. When I view the products being offered by other manufacturers like BMW or Kawasaki for example, it makes me wonder why Honda has waited so long to develop new technologies in a technology driven market place. Marketing a carry-over design for fifteen years is absurd and makes me wonder have they've even survived.
So, I for one am anxiously awaiting the 2017 models to see what Honda has actually done, if anything, and if by chance an entirely new model is unveiled, I'd wait until the third model year to even think about buying one however. Any engineering issues that appear during the first production year won't be resolved until late second year or possibly third year production. Like I said in a previous post, until they come up with something better than my 2015 six, I'm sticking with it.