I don't even think the assessment of the "fashions" is correct--vampire and fey boyfriends are still strong (and not only do I not think boyfriend species is a "fashion", I don't think alpha werewolf is necessarily an "improvement"), tattoos are still in (at least on covers, and they were ALWAYS on far more covers than actual descriptions of protags in the books would suggest). And I don't ever remember a big trend of PNR/UF heroines waving swords or bows and arrows (?!) around.

But yeaaaaaah, no. Cosmetic changes are not much of an improvement.