I think perhaps as technology moves on, cars perhaps more about the visuality and less about the driving experience. For those of you that have been in or driven a 240/260/280z/x will understand what I mean.
I think you're bang on with this, Immy. I've driven a few so called Zed rivals over the last month or so and what struck me is that they were very fast, very refined but lacked character. The lack of refinement in a 350Z - the tingle through the gearshift, the noise, the firm ride - meant that even when I wasn't pressing on I felt I was in a sports car and that was a big part of what made every trip, however mundane, an event. The meaty control weights which were lightened up on MY06/07 cars also added to the impression - not so heavy as to be a problem but clearly not designed for town driving.
Ultimately sports cars will become faster, grippier, better built and more refined but more characterful? Perhaps not.