Meh. I know you'd like the old heroes wiped out to make room for your own favourites and I feel that informs your opinion on this subject. I think if you love a hero there are always more good stories to tell. The real issue is (a) writers today want to make their mark fast, as they consider working for Marvel largely a method of upping their profile in order to boost sales of their creator-owned properties, and (b) if the hero they've been given to write is one that they don't really like, instead of just being professional about it and doing their best for the hero, they decide to deconstruct the hero into oblivion, possibly replacing them with their own guy/girl.
If you put in a writer who is passionate about Thor and has talent you will get good stories.