Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the tilt's popularity was due mainly to the fact that it was a relatively cheap, simple, skateable alternative to many of the tech shoes, not necessarily due to it's aesthetics. It had a similar shape to the MJ1 and Reynolds 2, but not quite the same charm as either of those. It wasn't ugly, just not very special looking. So, keeping the paneling and changing the way the shoe skates seems like they are missing the appeal of that shoe.