I understand that you would have missed out on some good shows, but you wouldn't know you missed anything and the new band would have much more credibility because they would be able to stand on their own music and just lean on the old material instead of the other way around. 

That has been my problem with the new band since day one.  I realize this isn't their fault, but those that are still there chose to accept it.  It's hard to have a ton of respect for Tommy (who hated GnR until it became time to pick up a paycheck), Finck (who has exactly 0 career writing credits), Richard (enough said), Pittman (wtf?), and tambourine boy (Dizzy).  They've had more drummers than guitarists (or so it seems).  The only member that really could have earned some respect and has since leaving (in my opinion) is BH.  He earned it by leaving and creating the music that he loves.  I respect that even if I'm not a huge fan.

Move on from what?  Nothing has changed, why should we pretend it has just to please a few people?  Until they release an album so they can stand on their own accomplishments, the fools in my opinion are the ones who think this is the same band.  It isn't, don't try to tell me it is because I know better.  This isn't a matter of opinion, it is a fact.  It is not the same band.  It has the same name and the same lead singer - end of story.  nobody is "starting" with the name thing again becasue the name thing still hasn't gone away.  If you want to be pissed at someone, be pissed at Axl.  He's allowed this to happen.

I prefer Slash's solo, and it really isn't even close.  If CD ever got released, the old band reunited, and they played TWAT, I'd prefer BH's outtro.  It's pretty difficult to improve on a classic.  I've yet to hear an old song played by the new band that was superior to the old band night after night, and this is no exception.  Maybe you can find an individual performance or two that was better, but not a song that the new band was always better at than the old band.

It's also pretty neat that they had enough confidence in their material to try almost all of it out live to see what the reaction would be and what they might be able to do better.  That is how to tour without an album release when you're actually working on the album.

Anything R.E.M. related that sounds like Monster has the potential to kick ass.  When I saw them on the Monster tour, they played a lot of the classics with the Monster vibe to it and they sounded great.