I love this ride. Its one of the last great dark rides left in Epcot after the loss of Horizons and World of Motion. I just wish they would come to thier senses and take down the hand and wand they put up on the outside of the sphere. It looked so much better before they added those.
As for the rumors of a replacement, this was being considered, but it turns out the sphere could not support the thrill ride they wanted to put inside it, so the plans have been shelved for now. ATT is no longering the attraction, so the Global Neighborhood are has been closed. In its place they are adding a simulator attration based on the time rider concept.