Here's how I feel. I have eaten at Artist Point twice. Both meals were capable and professional, however, in terms of what I feel a signature restaurant should be and in particular, a 2 credit restaurant at a deluxe resort, I feel Artist Point to be a disappointment and severely lacking in those special, magical qualities that are otherwise present at the other deluxe resorts' signatures and at most (though not all) of the 2 credit eateries in general.
I don't know why this is, exactly. But it is what it is and something is simply lacking. I don't think there should simply be a signature 2 credit place there for the sake of it if it doesn't deliver. Look at the Beach Club Resort, they are a deluxe resort but they don't bother having a signature restaurant and instead simply have the character dining one and the small eatery at Beaches and Cream precisely, probably for the same reason that the Wilderness shouldn't have one - there are simply too many and very popular signatures really close by and these great choices in such close proximity simply make it impossible for all these places to thrive without one of them getting squeezed out and suffering. And that is exactly what Artist Point has been doing for years, suffering and floundering with half empty or worse attendance for years. With the monorail resorts and Magic Kingdom offering better, one way or another, quality or theming, it just can't compete.
So, honestly, something drastic has to be done, and I can't blame Disney for doing it, though I respect those who will miss it as it is a respectable establishment with fine food, and I understand concerns about how character dining seems to bring lower quality food. But again, there are SO many choices close by for the kind of quality a guest might crave, it is hard to really see too many people missing Artist Point if it goes.