No, I agree DTC wasn't pushed, not after securing a golden handcuffs deal. I just wonder why he's tired of EE already? Maybe he (quite understandably) can't hack the constant intense scrutiny and criticism that goes with the job and is burnt out?
I'm an older fan of the show (since the first episode) but it wasn't the retcons that annoyed me the most (probably because my memory for historical details is hazy). It was the sensationalism and ludicrously over-the-top and dragged-out storylines that I hated. I agree EE would have been right at the top of its game if DTC had just been reigned in a bit more. The times when great care was obviously taken over storylines (such as the 30th anniversary week, Shabnam's stillbirth, Stacey's post-partum psychosis and Les Coker's cross-dressing) stand up with the best of EE in my opinion.
It's reassuring to hear you have such a high opinion of Sean O'Connor!