I just think he stopped caring about delivering the best music he could and became more focused on being the biggest. In the early 2000s his narrative changed to x amount of this, x amount of that. He realized he could position Bon Jovi amongst the elite, at least in terms of sales, shows, etc.

What I think he never got was the band was already going there anyway. Imagine if they had been able to deliver an album of similar quality to These Days around the Crush/Bounce era instead of essentially aim directly for the American housewife.

I refuse to believe the Jon who worte These Days and Destination Anywhere was unable to write similar work just 3-5 years later. It's the story we all know, he was completely blinded by the success of It's My Life, which while only a modest hit in the U.S. was a bigger song than it's chart position suggested and give the band a way back into the U.S. market. He's been catering to that market ever since.