I so agree with you - we first went to DLP in 2005 after having visited WDW the previous year and I remember being spoilt for choice at DLP with far more character dining opportunities than at WDW at the time - and with being able to order pizzas at Cafe Mickey or the tea parties they weren't at elitist prices! We used to love having lunch at Lucky Nugget (had a fabulous Christmas dinner there our first year) and also Sunday brunch at the Steakhouse. I actually preferred that to Inventions Sunday brunch and you could tell it was frequented by locals which is always a good sign.
Regardless of what transpires with Inventions and non-residents, I really hope they will soon announce a reasonable alternative to Cafe Mickey - preferably lunch and dinner because not everyone enjoys breakfast or wants to dine with the princesses.
My hubby thinks I'm being miserable and not being open to change/progress when I say this but I'm sort of glad my girls have grown up as I think maybe we got the best years - especially where character dining was concerned.