"But as solid a product as Diablo III promises to be, there’s still a part of us that wishes what Blizzard did next wasn’t something it had done before."

What part? I think that this phrase may be wrong for several reasons. First as regards the fact that Blizzard didn't create a new game/IP: because what that would be a problem? Certainly, there is a "crisis of sequels" in the market, with several of them being produced. But the crucial difference is that Diablo3 is a unique case among them. It is one of those sequels that are really expected, and not simply "one more of them"!

Second, if someone interpret it as a criticism of the characteristics of Diablo3... Certainly, what I want that Blizzard do in their games is something that has been done before, after all, is precisely what is expected of a sequel. If you "innovate" too much, the game stops being himself, and becomes something else. The games today are all very similar to each other, and to do something (apparently) more "conservative", has the result that the game ended up different. Or someone even think TPP or FPP are "innovations"?

In the end... That is why I love Blizzard!