This, but the opposite
Same. I was increasingly frustrated with Autechre after EP7 and eventually abandoned them by Quaristice. But elseq brought me back into the fold hard and also Exai is one of my favorite Autechre albums.
I think there's less variation in their approach since they dumped using hardware. I got only really (ashamedly) properly got into AE around Untillted, Quaristice was also awesome (especially variations), never quite gelled with Oversteps but I felt Move of Ten was much more a fans album which I love. Exai has some top draw stuff but also a lot of so-so which is what I felt about Elseq especially for how much it cost for a download.
Personally think the live stuff is something really special and I love to think the bootlegs we've been hammering over the years have had some influence on the release of the proper soundboards from the webshop although I'm still waiting for a definitive Quaristice tour recording. I'm really liking the current evolution of the live sound which is only a week away.
Whats the chances of this tour getting on the webshop, i.e. do I have to hold a sweaty recorder all night at Granada studios?