Imagine if I was the leader artist on Game Freak and worked in the company for 20 years but ALL I know how to draw was cutesy monsters.
Than one day one guy come and say they want Pokemon to have a 3d world with buildings and vehicles and I was supposed to draw it all and to avoid losing face I just lie to my teeth saying this would be a terrible idea which would not improve the game.
That's pretty much what I believe happens at Game Freak, they seen like a relic of the past who hold to their life to the single formula they know how to execute because they know very well they lack the skill to do anything different but if they admit it they'll open up the door to being replaced by someone who know how to do it.