I think a good start would have been a port of the existing code to make the old software – warts and all – to be compatible with modern operating systems. Then, later, add features or rework the existing functionality.
I still use the old version in a VM because it’s better than anything else I’ve tried for the music I write. Would be nice to be native since now I’m using a Mac instead of Windows and a Windows VM is a lot of overhead to carry. I still do it since I haven’t found anything better after trying many of the major and minor players.
It is debatable if adapting it to current needs and standards is an absolute necessity. It wouldn’t satisfy all – but would have given something for some.
None of this matters though since the roadmap is more or less cast in stone. I wish release dates were better scoped but it is what it is. My wishes or collective frustrations will not cause the software appear any sooner than it is destined to.