Where did you read that its not supposed to be the Toy Story Buzz?
Don't have to read it. Just have to pay attention to what you see in the ride. I see no evidence at all that this character is the toy Buzz Lightyear, and lots to support that idea that he is supposed to be
the "actual" space ranger upon whom said toy is based.
Anyways, while we're throwing things out we might as well throw out Monsters Inc. That has no place in Tomorrowland. Unless you want to try to use the "but its sci-fi!" excuse.. which I don't buy, personally.
It's definitely a more difficult fit, but truthfully that's been true of every single attraction that has ever been housed in that building. Yes, even "Timekeeper." The sci-fi one could extrapolate
must somewhere be buried in
Monsters, Inc. makes at least as much sense as that in Timekeeper -- it's just that the latter (time travel) is a more readily recognized sci-fi trope (and is used in a more straightforward manner) than the unusual alternative energy sources and multiple-dimension ideas at work in
Monsters Inc. and, by extension, The Laugh Floor. Plus, I like it. At least I finally get to
sit down in that building! But the sci-fi in Timekeeper is science-fantasy, and as such is no more off-base, really, than The Laugh Floor. And both fit better than Magic Carpet Around the World.
And with the Disney trend lately they'd replace it with a Cars meet & greet (like they have at DHS), another store, and call it a day.
I don't see the trend you mention. Can you tell me another ride/attraction in the last five years (or the next couple of years) that has been removed and replaced by the sort of thing you mentioned? The closest I can think of is the Snow White ride in Fantasyland, but they're replacing that with another ride, just not in the same building. And anyway, I don't believe in avoiding action because something bad
might happen as a result. It's always going to be possible that something bad might happen, but living in fear of it leads to stagnation. Courage is a response to fear, not the lack of it. Plus, I don't believe it is fair or valid to blame someone for something
you imagine they
might do, and then to behave as if they
did do it.
Scott