I think in the 80's U2 didn't really know what they were doing but they were very interesting.
In the 90's they figured out a bit of what they were doing and were more intersting.
In the 00's, they know exactly what they are doing and I think a good portion of the public are apathetic because they were more interesting when they were less calculated.
Maybe they are singing more about heart and soul now but that doesn't neccessarily come across in the music just because Bono shouts "soul, soul, the goal is soul". Almost force-fed feel-good.
The music still sounds good, I think U2 are becoming more proficient at their craft, but that doesn't always translate into greatness. I think that is a difference for a few of us. The difference between good and great. Bono himself says they want to be great. And I think most of us want them to be great.
It all changes when you are into the music.
I have been playing OOTS on my guitar and keyboard lately and thinking "you know this really is a nice tune, really something better and different than what they have previously done".
As a musician, I appreciate the chord changes, the melody etc.
And I listen to it on the album and it's not there for me. I think if it's production, Bono, or whatever there is something decidedly different about the music.
They became great at their craft and I think the music became too refined. It's the difference between a tremendous studio musician and a hack guitarist like Kurt Cobain.
The greatness is how the song sounds, not how it's put together.
It's the difference between me playing a U2 song note for note and Edge playing it. I can mimmick the notes, I can't make it sound like Edge. The real heart and soul is in that difference.