"wonder where Bob Copper would have fitted into all that."

I suspect, exactly where everyone else fits in. Some would love him, others wouldn't. Respect and personal taste don't always go hand in hand.

To extend the 'house' analogy (from someone who has spent a large part of his life restoring and renovating houses), yes, respect and understand what you're working with but, in order to live there you have to bring it up to modern standards and that means installing electricity, plumbing and sanitation, heating, maybe building an extension - and somewhere along the way compromises will always have to be made and personal taste taken into consideration.