I was waiting for the "Back in my day...!" to follow. Things were perfect then, weren't they? Everything was exactly how you wanted it.
I'm reading Silver Surfer (B list), Iron Fist (C list), and Spider-Gwen (D list), so... yes. You can read those types of characters. You just have to assume that the book won't last that long. Personally, I don't mind because then I get to go buy some other book. (But I keep myself to a low number of comics per month.)
There is character growth in Silver Surfer, Iron Fist, and Spider-Gwen, so... no. Character growth isn't non-existent. You just have to know where to look if you don't care for "the illusion of change" - which personally, I don't even really mind.
Change is a constant, people. Sometimes you like the change and sometimes you don't. You'd think that, being comic book fans, you'd realize that often the change comes full circle (even without complaining from fans!).
Y'know what I do? I buy comics that look good. And then I read them. And then, sometimes I like them; sometimes I don't. I continue buying some of them, and others I don't. I feel no need to tear down the whole line, or the company, or wistfully wish for a past that no longer exists because, y'know, time moves forward.
I hope Secret Wars is cool. If it's not, oh well. I'm very excited to read WEIRDWORLD, and maybe I'll buy some other comics too. If they're good: hooray! If not: oh well! And if SW creates long-lasting changes to the MU? I hope they're cool! And if not: oh well! And if Marvel doesn't keep its promise that SW will have long-lasting ramifications? OH. WELL.
Regardless, I'll keep finding comics that I enjoy reading.
-Pav, who loves continuity as much as others, if not moreso...