Yikes. I know those are just your opinions, but I have to say that there is a MAJOR difference between the wand and the original Journey Into Imagination. The wand is a cheap, tacky marketing tool that was tolerable for one year (it was a novelty for 2000). Now it has no function except to remind those who are too ignorant to know where they are that they are in "Epcot." It defaces the elegant-looking Spaceship Earth, which, by the way, is an excellent attraction and, unlike much of what is left in Future World, truly embodies the original spirit of EPCOT.
Journey Into Imagination, though not futuristic, inspired people to use their imagination to conceive ideas that might better our future. It used two characters who helped symbolize EPCOT's spirit - Figment AND The Dreamfinder. It was not all just funhouse nonsense like the most recent versions have been. I came out of the original feeling exhilarated and inspired. I come out of the most recent versions feeling like I visited an above-average carnival ride.
Personally, I feel they can "Disneyfy" EPCOT as much as they want. "Circle of Life," for example, is an excellent attraction...and I think the Living Seas will be a much less dry place - no pun intended - with Nemo and Friends. I just think they need to make sure they maintain the edu-tainment that made it so special to me when I first visited.