Can Magnepan survive Wendell Diller?

I don’t agree that Magnepan doesn’t work to improve their speakers… they just don’t turn over new models every year or two as some speaker companies do. I’ve owned several of their speakers over the last 35 years, including every “1” series since then (1C, 1.4, 1.5qr, 1.6qr, 1.7qr, and 1.7i), as well as the 3.3r, and 3.5r. Each revision was a clear improvement over the outgoing model. I’ve also had other brands/types of speakers in other systems while the Maggies were in house, so I was able to swap them out, using various amps, and rooms. I’ve fallen in love with other speakers briefly, only to eventually return to Magneplanars. They just present music in a way that I find very appealing, and “real-sounding”. While I agree that they can be improved (all speakers at all price points can), I can say that, for Me, in stock form they handily outdo other speakers I’ve spent time with that are multiples of the respective retail prices of the Maggies I’ve had at the time. 
Regarding the notion that the company should offer “upgrades”, I also disagree. I’ve considered this in the past.. eg: a modern version of a 2.5/2.6, which were in the market for several years.. a bridge model between 1.x and 3.x.. but realize that if these were a hot models, they would’ve continued in the line. They just didn’t sell well. So customers “told” Magnepan with their wallets that they didn’t need a bridge model. Something those of you throwing “upgrade numbers” around are not considering this: The cost to the end user would be MUCH higher than the cost of the upgraded parts (frames, xovers, wiring, etc.). Why? Because there is (and should be) a Process to this. Beyond the design and engineering phase, there would be the making of prototypes, testing, listening, adjusting, retesting, re-listening, etc..etc.. In addition to that, machines would have to be built to make new frames (and exist alongside the current machines), and employees would need to be trained in incorporating these new parts (These speakers are hand-built by real people, not by robots)… All these things have their own cost components, which would drive the retail prices to a point beyond reasonable value. And, for what? A small incremental “difference”? As some others have pointed out, if an owner WANTS to tinker.. have at it. Magnepan is providing an excellent platform to build off of! Have a blast! Or just listen to them as they are, which is great, and know that every single speaker out there will have strengths and weaknesses that can be nit picked. Find the compromises that you’re willing to live with and be happy 😊. 
As for “surviving Wendell”, the original posted question…. I would answer “They have, and they are”! And quite well. With or without your approval! There are definitely people who share your dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the company, but there are many times more people who Love their Maggies, and will continue to support the company into the future. You have to remember that Wendell has been in this game a very long time, and has heard it ALL! If you think you’re the first to suggest they change “this or that” to make their speakers better, I’ll tell you, you’re not. He’s human, so may not respond to your suggestions with the enthusiasm you expect. He knows most customers love their speakers, and he’s likely sick of hearing uneducated (in planar speaker design) suggestions after 40 years. I would be. He’s worked tirelessly FOR Magnepan all these years, and it would be more appropriate to say that they’ve survived so long, in part, BECAUSE of him. So take it easy on the guy. 
One more point, from a long time owner of this brand: Set up, and amplifier choice are extremely important to successfully getting the best from these speakers.. that goes for most speakers, but especially these. IMO, more important than which capacitors are used in the crossover, or using a “better” frame. All things will make some kind of a difference, but positioning, and amp choice are tops. I’ve used over a dozen amplifiers over the years. How you listen will determine which amp works for you. Also, time spent adjusting the position of these speakers will reward you with amazing sound quality. Again, all speakers benefit from this exercise, but it has a major influence on the sound of planars. As always, this is only my experience. Ymmv. 

I’ve heard Magnepan speakers at audio shows here on the left coast and was generally impressed with their sound.

But, both times, I will say the demos were some of the most bizarrely conducted I’ve ever been to.

Strict sign up slots, then ushered into a dimly lit room with the speakers hidden behind a curtain so you can’t see the set up, quietly seated while the demo of sound effects and musical excerpts are shuffled into a CD player by an assistant. Then ushered out of the room with no Q&A for the next group.

I'm in agreement with op as to in house upgrade paths. Being an inveterate modder I often can't leave things alone. There have been a number of instances in which I was able to directly contact owner/designer of said equipment to relate my experience with mods. In all cases these owners/designers felt offended that I even felt the need to improve their product. While I can empathize with their perspective of having designed and built a great product, I can't understand their unwillingness to improve it.

Now, in one case I modified an unnamed speaker with upgraded capacitors;  contacted the owner/designer with my findings, no positive response. Low and behold, a few months later those very same speakers had those capacitors in an upgraded version!
Iconoclasts at work here, many of these guys only like their own ideas. While I still modify some of my equipment, I no longer contact manufacture as I don't expect positive response.
I see so much equipment that could be improved by simple parts substitutions, resistance comes from positive reviews and sales figures of stock configuration equipment. I do see some manufacturers are beginning to grasp the idea of high quality parts such that I've  now been able to limit my purchases to equipment that doesn't need my mods.

Winey invented the first Magnepan drivers, back in 1969.         50+ years later: the company is alive, well and prospering nicely.          I've not yet found a piece of audio equipment, that couldn't be improved upon with well chosen/upgraded, component parts and/or some judicious tweaking.         On the other hand: if your business model is working for you, DON'T FIX IT!                                                                                                                                 "Made in America.  Sold in China."

@krelldreams

I am a retired product designer/developer and have a fairly good idea of what it would take to offer a factory upgraded XOver; a second set of picking bins at the XOver assembly station.

Like everyone here you offer good insight from the customers perspective on the issue, but I disagree with other points you make, and so I will address these.

I drive mine to from low to moderately loud volumes, from time to time, with a AHB2 amp. With upgraded cables it sounds as rich and dynamic as a Para A21 or a Bryston. It has all of the power I need. If I got the 3.7i's I’d just use two of them. So this discussion is not about what I'm doing wrong, or all of the old saws we already know about the speaker line, it's about what the factory can do for us as consumers and if there is a need for that.

Another example of where this company lets customers down is contacting them for amp recommendations. They go to great lengths to point out that these speakers require a "special amp" before a purchase, and then tell you that they don’t have time to test amps to tell you which ones work better? How do they know the speakers require a Special Amp if they have listened to some they have rejected?

 A company that makes speakers doesn’t have the time to review amps? What do they do all day at work, watch television? Perhaps they should listen to their speakers with different amps while working? That would require doing two things at once, I know, but I am sure that as a professional courtesy amp companies would provide "loaners" so that they could be on a thumbs up list? Amp arrives on Monday, put in house system and listen for a week or two, ship back to manufacturer. Does that sound like a difficult task to anyone?

There simply is no rhyme or reason to their persnickety behavior, and there are no shortage of complaints about these things on this or other forums regarding this company. I am not the first person to broach this subject, and I know I won't be the last. It's part of Magnepan's job to listen to the consumer, even if it isn’t about how broke they are, that is called only hearing what you want to, and that is the exact opposite of what someone with a marketing background would recommend, in most cases. 
This is how companies stay in business, and why some have to close their doors. Their story isn’t over, so cut me a break on defending abusive behavior, I would prefer a company pretend to be listening to me, and then ignore what I have to say, rather than have them tell me openly to piss off, I'm bothering them. If that's too much to ask of a manufacturer, I must be mistaken about all the companies I have dealt with over the last 65 years where I walked away feeling reassured that I am important to them and that I and others are the reason they have a successful business.