Well IMO the rides that they are taking out are the ones that have been there since either the very beginning or mid to late 80's. As far as the new high tech rides, I think PKI likes to have prototype rides. After all, they were the very first park to have a suspended coaster (The Bat) and had America's first stand up coaster. Plus being owned by Paramount of course the new rides are going to be new and movie themed.
And I knew Phantom Theater was going to be changing in 2002. That was the pattern with that ride from the beginning. Every 10 years, they changed it. It opened originally as the Enchanted Voyage, in '82, it became Smurfs Enchanted Voyage, '92 it was Phantom Theater and so on.
I miss some of the old rides that have been removed, but the replacements are always kick butt.
I know I'm going to miss the Tiques, but that ride shook you to death anyways.