They massively over-estimated fans' abilities to cope with an overall update. So did I, tbh.
I don't quite see it like that. Rather, I think that TPTB simply underestimate the lasting influence of TOS in their effort to try and change Star Trek into their vision of it. Which, unless you're Nicholas Meyer, tends to ultimately fail. I also think that TPTB (past and present) can't get out of their mindset that every Trek show, no matter what time period it takes place in, must have tons of elements from TNG.