That is the most accurate and descriptive take on the respective strengths of the Elitist and the SG-RI that I have had the pleasure to devour. Love the wasp/bumblebee comparison - so apt! Excommunication proceedings herewith adjourned!
The Epi was a slow seller at the time, of course it was high-priced, but so is the Casady Sig and that sells consistently well. The SG-RI, otoh, has become a staple product with Gibson so I think the approach of "modernizing it even more" was commercially sound. People play an SG-shaped bass for the look, legacy and the short scale, not for the varitone or a real mudbucker sound.