I prefer it with the wand, mainly because our first trip was in 2000, when they first put up the wand, so It's been up all the time as far as I know. It just looks plain without the wand... But I do see why people don't like it.
Also, I don't like the hat in DHS. Well, it's positioning anyway. I much prefer the original idea of the hat being outside the park (and having ferris wheel ears..).
I like it without the wand, though I've never known otherwise, but when I first saw the EPCOT ball, not in real 4 dimensions, but just seeing it, was with the wand, but I still like it without, the wand just doesn't say EPCOT.
I grew up with the wand, my picture is on the marble in front of sse, it just looks more classy without the wand. However it was cool to be able to see the wand from our condo at beach club villas.