Problem in the mlp generations:
the only reason they were created was to promote toys, in g4, it was more than that. They used it not only to promote toys, but to refresh us and try to redeem themselves. Over time, the show broke away a bit from Hasbro and It's toy line, and now feels like a completely new thing. No longer has the show based on toys, the show was based off written stories and toys where based off that.
In G4 Lauren Faust worked with the fans and worked her best to make it, and won over the fans.
The other people on the staffs before g4 where only in it for cash.