Bon Jovi play a style of music where they can't really win. If they're playing to the strengths of their experience and Jon's voice, it's gonna be super mellow, which won't please the fanbase who want arena ready choruses and immediate energy. If they write these songs, they will be compared to their greatest hits and the music press will label them a band that doesn't ever change. If they try new stuff (which they did on THINFS, IMO) they will have a sound that's inspired by artists and trends that will never pick up on them.

The KTF-era sound would have worked for an older band, a little grittier, a little more bluesy. As it is, they try to write fun pop songs while trying to keep it fresh. I can respect that, but it won't win over critics. U2 have a much easier time being respectable given they have been about "lowkey emotions" for many albums now; very "moody" band if you will. That works better with age and more subtley delivery, but it's not what BJ were ever about.