As I said before, the middle rows of Apollo's Chariot might not have actual lift, but you still feel the sensation of being lighter, so while it's not actual airtime, it isn't a completely dead moment like you're making it out to be. Clearly something happens there, and while it's not intense it's a unique feeling that is very enjoyable in itself. Definitely not boring (I will say that I didn't notice even this over the hills of Raging Bull at all, which I would say is boring).
http://rideofsteel.com/page.php?id=4
The Boulder Dash charts have been taken down, I found the post but the images are broken. I have them somewhere on my computer, I'll look tomorrow. I did find
this one of Piraten, which I think most people see as having pretty extreme air (I know they do of Maverick, and it has basically the same hills), yet it only has a few instances of being over -1. The instances are also very short, which indicates that there was some noise, as well as a shaping technique (or so I'm told) Intamin uses that "pumps" over the hills in very small increments. This is way more apparent on SROS, but I'd bet it happens at the peak of Piraten's hills as well judging from the graph.
You can be original while staying within constraints. CCI built over 30 rides, all similar in forces that they pulled and even shaping, yet many of them feel different from one another and they obviously have distinctive, original layouts. I guess I do consider following an actual company's styling to be realistic, just because no one can do it right thus it is more challenging, however I think people can have original shaping that is new and different while still being realistic. Again, I can't think of many people off the top of my head who I think actually COULD do this, but that's where the challenge comes in. All you're doing is asking people to make more of the same unrealistic bullshit rides that they've been making since NL came out, except now they do it with Newton so they're all smooth.
And lol, not even gonna start on the Estop testing procedures.