I think that the underlying problem is the approach to the fully immersive lands with some sort of unifying cohesiveness. With these new lands like Pandora and Star Wars, they are trying to make them as "real" as possible. That is one reason why there is no exposed coaster in Pandora as it wouldn't lend itself to the "reality" that the Imagineers are attempting to create. On the actual Pandoran moon, there wouldn't be a roller coaster, or for that matter a spinner ride. Also, that is why I think that there is an exposed coaster in the Toy Story Land expansion. If the rides are supposed to be toys that Andy is playing with in his backyard, an exposed coaster fits that theme nicely.
Having been to Pandora already, the land, rides, QS...everything is made to appear as realistic as possible, as well as making certain that if fits into the narrative of the land itself. I contrast it to the MK, where a different approach to themed entertainment is followed. The different lands have a theme, no doubt, but the approach is different. In FL, you have Peter Pan next to IASM, next to 7DMT, next to Pooh, etc. The rides themselves are aligned with the theme of fantasy, but it is still a bunch of rides lined up next to each other. In Pandora, each experience is woven into a single tapestry that presents a very unified experience.
Pandora, and what will be Star Wars Land, are totally different approaches as opposed to the MK. That is why I believe that there is a reduction in rides, with much more budget being given to the fewer rides that inhabit the land to make them as "real" as possible. But the remainder of the money will be poured into outrageously themed environments, including the food and merchandise areas. I find that the concept of more rides in a given space has been abandoned for less rides that will allow for a more overall immersive atmosphere. I think that there are park visitors these days that enjoy walking through just the land of Pandora and taking it all in, at their pace. Today's guests love taking selfies, or photos of the land, the food, the streetmosphere and posting to every form of social media out there. So much so that things like the "mossy wall" in Pandora is now a "thing" for people to do; it cost Disney literally nothing to create, but it is now something that guests seek out. We are now helping define experiences in theme parks that weren't necessarily in the minds of those that created the lands in the first place.