Unfortunately Walt's vision of what EPCOT would be hasn't existed since it opened in 1982. He wasn't planning a theme park, he was planning a community... a place to live and work. So, while I agree with the goal of what you're saying here, when he spoke about it, no he wasn't planning attractions that focus on anything.
Ultimately I blame what has happened at Epcot on a change in what people are ultimately looking for in a vacation and what keeps kids interested and engaged these days. When I was 7 years old, I adored EPCOT Center. I loved the "edutainment" attractions. Horizons, Imagination and Spaceship Earth were my hands down favorites with World of Motion and Universe of Energy a close 2nd. I would ride these attractions over and over again. It was a different world in the early 80s though. We didn't have the internet and instant gratification for anything we could ever want to know. We didn't have video games (well, not like we do now) and a lot more was left to the imagination when it came to things like school work and learning. Today's children are growing up in a very different world. They instantly can gain access to any piece of information they could possibly ever want to know. They are taught using completely different methods, most using technology and again, curriculum that is even different than it was back then.
My 7-year old son continues to amaze me in that he would much rather ride Living with the Land and Spaceship Earth over and over again than Soarin' or Test Track (though he does love Test Track). When we go to MK he'd rather sit through Carousel of Progress 10 times in a row than go on Space Mountain once. He even loves the entire Universe of Energy attraction. But... he's a very different kid that most his age, even his own friends. He has a hard time engaging with other kids his age for that reason. One of his best friends is visiting a local theme park every week doing the big roller coasters and thrill rides but he's not interested. Honestly, I'm loving it because I'm 100% sure it's going to change very soon.
I think, much of the things we "complain" about having changed at Epcot specifically are because those of us who grew up with the EPCOT of the 80s remember just how fundamentally different it was. The entire scope and feeling of the park was just totally different. A big point for me was when I accepted that it wasn't necessarily "bad" that it changed, it just wasn't done in the best ways. Most of what us 80s kids hate about today's Epcot are the things that changed during what I often call "the dark times." Those years in the mid/late 90s where across property some very bad decisions were made... mostly to save a buck. The focus was lost.
That said... to me... much of that imagination that was lost in those years is slowly returning and it's because those children of the 80s are now the Imagineers. The recent refurbs they've done and the expansions like New Fantasyland truly feel to me more like the world that was and the world Walt wanted. Change takes time though and we have to be patient to witness it. While I would LOVE to see the original Imagination pavilion make a return, I have to accept it's gone forever. Instead, I look forward to someone with some imagination taking over the refurb of the pavilion and finding a way to incorporate what was with what ultimately will capture the attention, mind and imagination of today's kids and families. To me, a P&F refurb, if done well and with attention to detail, could be a fantastic way to bring back the original concept of the pavilion (uhm... imagination?) while dating it appropriately to work for today's generation. It's about balance and I truly believe that no matter what the theme they go with, today's Imagineering teams can and will find a way to do something with Imagination that is worth our time!
Here's hoping!
