I really hope you're right and that's the only reason behind the awful lack of attention to design. When the "new 200 series" products were first announced and Meridian were questioned on the design, though, wasn't there some kind of response along the lines that Meridian thought they looked cool (which I found both depressing and worrying)?

I guess we'll find out when/if Meridian announce new consumer gear...

Yeah, the 'old' 200 series are my favourite Meridian designs, still look stunning now, to my eyes. The Lecson AC1 was really stunning, though, although not technically Meridian, of course, (and apparently rather impractical to manufacture).

HC: 861v4/ID40/LPS, DSP5000, DSP5000VC, DSP3100, SW1600, HD621, Oppo BDP-105, Sony VPL-HW55ES
2-Channel: Oppo BDP-105, TEAC VRDS-7/Trichord Clock 3/PSU, 551, Quad 303, Harbeth Compact 7ES-3, Kimber cables, Russ Andrews mains and supports.
Previous Meridian: 5000C, 5200SL, 7200.2, 6000, 562V.2, 568.2mm, 800v4, 808.2i, 818v2/v3, 861v8, 502