I think CCP will guide them through their inaugral period, I don't think anyone has joined CCP yet really understanding their in-house style, as an outsider I find it confusing, but it seems to be working. We'll always have gripes with any product, and I have a few major ones with EvE, but the proof is in the pudding - I still play, and enjoy, the game. I think these new additions bring valuable insight that, should they hold onto it as they become integrated into the house-style of development, will become more valuable than any of their prior contributions.
A big epiphany moment for me was in deciding to commit to a form of extremism ICly, that I knew would receive more negative responses than positive, and yet still find engagement in the events. I am no rp/eve-celeb, my contributions are very small, even in my main area of specialisation (trade - my pvp is 'layman' level at best). But I still found that I could engage with and be engaged by live event actors, CCP events staff and so forth, if I put myself out there. Sure, I have my moderate chars, after all one PF shift and Sol essentially becomes an untouchable save for a few close friends and hardcore activists, but the point remains - We are being listened to, and it isn't just the loudest that reap the rewards.
That's my main reason for applauding CCP currently, and I hope that what they have revived with the LE team, they follow with the other aspects of development - utilizing the social connections that their staff have left behind to bring development and community closer, but not too close.
CCP has had favouritism outed, suffered the consequences of bad development decisions and seen many a community attempt such as Aurora essentially implode. Call me an optimist, but I think that they have learned form these growing pains and know that we're the fire that keeps them going as a company, but like fire, they should handle us with care, respect our needs, but not get so close as to get burned by the prior accusations of playing favourites. They're hitting 10 years of EVE now, I think that they are doing very well at maturing the development/customer relationship and i hope that this continues to be the case.