Don't you think the Ultimate Universe has deviated from its original purpose? It's now more or less just another alternate reality where instead of having reinvigorated versions of characters it's a world where the Fantastic Four don't exist, numerous important characters are dead, Reed Richards became evil, Washington DC blew up, etc. I think even the creators of this universe went from "we have to make old things new" to "we can make extreme things that would never happen in 616".
Well, sure. But it’s been around for, what, 13 years or so now? Makes sense to me that this change would happen–there’s only so long that you can accrue history in a line before it’s just as difficult for a new reader to jump into. And the world of 13 years ago and it’s needs are different from those of today.