I can understand your feelings.
I started the same discussion shortly after the release of TC on some german fan boards. I'll try to translate a few of my toughts and write them down here.
For me it begins with the last releases. Exspecially "Lost Highway" and a big part "The Circle" didn't grab my attention. I'm not a fan who dislikes all the post-2000 albums but most of these records is played a way too safe and too radio-friendly. When I see the potential which David (musicals) and Richie (guest-performance by BB King before TC) show, it really hurts. I can't understand, how these great musicians can be satisfied with a song like WWBTF and talk about it like it is some of the best songs they've ever done.

Another point is, when I hear all this talking about "we are a band for all generations,...", I sometimes think if they really have an idea of what they are talking about because when you look at these high ticket prices, you can't be serious about it. I'm a student and I'm lucky if I can visit one of their concerts. But you know, it's a lot more fun, when you go to a concert with good friends and have a great show/night. So when I go to a friend and ask her/him if she/he wants to come with me to a Bon Jovi show, she/he will ask about the prices and will surely be shocked by my answer. Not only pupils or students can't pay these ticket prices for a more or less good place in the arena, even people who work, don't accept to pay these prices of 100+x €/$. By the way I want to point out that I went to AC/DC or Bruce and that I paid nearly 80 €, but there are price-categories and price-developments, I can follow in some way.
The "too-safe-argument" which I use before, can be named for their live-performances as well. When you ask me about my favorite musicians or music groups, it comes down to three names: Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and Die Toten Hosen (great german band, maybe I will present them in the other music-section some day ). The last two, Bruce and DTH, always give their audiences 120% of energy and passion and you have the feeling, that they are kind of thankful to have the possibility to perform in front of you. Luckily I attend to some true magical Jovi shows (Düsseldorf 2006, Munich 2006/08 ) where I honestly think that the band has the feelings, which I describe before. But when I see the MSG DVD and Jons gestic, when he looked back to the audience at the end of the show and touched his heart, I don't see this gratitude and for me it feels like he was acting. It all seems like a play where every song or mimic is planed step by step before. Bruce for example feels the audiences and their reactions during the show and reacts spontaneous with some setlist changes. That's a lot closer to my definition of a rock'n'roll show.

I hope I will see them on the road in the year 2011 and that I will find my faith in this band again.


PS: When somebody here wants to read the text, which I posted on the german fan boards, you can write me a pm and I will send it to you.