What happened to Yamaha electronics?

I had an all Yamaha mid-fi system around 1988, cold and sterile comes to mind.  No body to the music.  When I say mid-fi, I am talking an (all Yamaha) integrated amp, tuner, and cd player.  I was using Boston Acoustics speakers (their most expensive floor standing speakers) and a Nakamichi cassette deck.  I hated it but my friend loved it and bought the entire system.  Moved on to Adcom separates and Vandersteen 2ci speakers.  Then the continuous upgrade path began.

I never got the love for Yammie. Below the line, AFAIC.

I have and use an RX-Z9 RECEIVER bought new for $4,050 in 2003, the first year they had a 10% off sale.

This unit now has over 35,000 hours on it and still functions as new!  I’ve actually worn out the first remote.

The unit operates in Class A/B and can peak at 540 WPC.  (Must be heavily into Class A because it gets real hot when there is no/little signal.)

For music (Oppo-95 ) I run it in "Pure Direct" mode which by-passes everything but the volume control and turns off the digital circuitry.  I’ve run it with an open load all the way to a dead short and never has it failed.

Take the name tags off do spec sheet and build quality / parts review. Many models will significantly surpass theirs and other pay grades. Example, a Tube sound preference might go to an Audio reference 160s, but nothing else on that spec sheet would come anywhere close to the Yamaha Mx-10000. Yes it was a limited production that said it was also 1987 vintage. 

Friend had a Yamaha CA1000,  I preferred my Sony V-fet. That was quite a while ago.