No, things are much the same for me as they've always been. XTC are not able to trigger deep emotions in me, not after a hundred listens to Skylarking. It's a good record for sure, very well done, but my favourite XTC is still the XTC of "Statue of Liberty".
Well "Black Sea" is a really great record. In short, I prefer XTC before they went sentimental.

And I'm not somebody who usually favours quirky and self-consciously clever music. I love Van Morrison and Enya for chrissake. But some bands are more suited to some types of music.
Partridge and Moulding, for whatever reason, are simply unable to move me. I mean I hear what you're saying about for instance "Harvest Festival", and it is well-written and all, but... no. "That longing look" etc. It does not feel to me the way that classic Macca feels to me.

Nevertheless, congratulations to another round of great reviews! And I did appreciate the chance to take another trip through the XTC discography, this time with a reliable guide.