The Swamp Fox wrote:That "new map" feel is what I'm shooting for with these. Not a "crazy-looking flashy-effect super-shader-swap flying-warthog" feel.

Don't get mad because you can't make a flying warthog and swap shaders Mr. n00b.
I agree though, the shader swaps and effects are getting boring, although once something gets old in the modding world we get some tool or something to make it more fun.
We went from...
Only swapping stuff...the days before TF6's Encryptomatic Tool
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Encrypomatic Tool, no more purely swapping mods.
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The first modding tools, along with texture extraction/injection, and shader swaps.
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Various new techniques for making effects.
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Insolence and Serenity make PMI from SP to MP possible, along with .serenity format becoming a new standard for mod patch making.
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Model injection with incorrect UVWs.
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Animated/Active Scenery.
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Lightmap Editing Tool
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BSP extraction and a few people slowly figuring out injection with collision.
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The Future:Prometheus for all new maps along with AI adding and most likely last...AI in MP.
Did I miss any part of the history?