recent ratdog shows ripped the dead to pieces. if you miss the grateful dead see ratdog for a buzz you won't get from the dead.
Which Dead ?
The 2004 Dead or the 1993 Dead ?
But still, the music evolves, it must. Some years and line-ups are bound to be better than others.
There were years when the GD simply weren't as hot as others, so why should it be different now ?
Goes with the territory, I think.