I won't say that I am disappointed, because honestly I wasn't really expecting it would be any different.
Cutting lots of corners to make a product that will sell, certainly quite profitably, is probably what made short term business sense.
Geophysic was a somehow bland watch which attractiveness was primarily in its movement, and got some sort of connaisseur following.
The tribute markets itself on the fame created by a movement, but just fails to deliver in this department.
And I don't buy at all the 'there wouldn't be enough demand for to justify a manual wound movement'. TT reversos are manual and everybody seems fine with them.
Plus, as you demonstrated with your exposé here, thinking of other potential cash-cow tributes to be (as this seems to be the way forward), there was an upside potential ofr at least 2-3000 other watches (think TT mkVII and TT mkXI) that would have amortised its production development cost.
Again, this watch will certainly sell very well based on hype and good marketing on its pseudo historic lineage. But there was only one chance to properly create a valid tribute to the Geophysic, and it is quite messed up.
TT Polaris was good / faithful recreation. TT DSA was OK too. TT Reverso was a modern interpretation nicely done. But this Geophysique, it hurts badly.
As close as a 1958 Geophysique than a diesel Porsche Cayenne is to a 1968 911. Now, that doesn't mean that Diesel Porsche Cayenne isn't a good cash cow and makes perfect business sense. But stretching the historic 'patrimoine' that much can only last so far.
I am just wondering what's next ?