Who's to blame? Is it the builders? Or the small coterie of so-called consultants and organ advisers? Or is it the people who commission new instruments? Or the people who hold the purse strings?
I've thought long and hard over teatime with this one. I think that builders are not always allowed to build what is best for each place taking into consideration acoustics and situation. Secondly, the people who are commissioning have sometimes idyosyncratic tastes which perhaps the next incumbant will not have. Consultants! Well, do they suggest? design? or consider tenders on behalf of the purchaser? If a builder knows what they can properly build for a position I think everyone should have faith in their judgement. If I had such an opportunity to engage a builder I think that I would simply say "give me two designs". The first, what you would think appropriate to display their artistry and secondly another design that has a financial ceiling. To me that would be the basis for positive discussion and a foundation for an excellent musical instrument. On a musical organ I imagine you can play just about everything.