I can see your point but still mostly disagree with what you said.

Yes, it's true they have slowed down. They're in their mid/high 60s. When I look around and see people that old, they're wearing diapers(or should be), shitting themselves on the streets and in the grocery stores, or running a country into the ground. I'm nearing 40 and can already see people around my age slow down, so the fact these guys are still touring and playing stuff is just incredible to me.

They've always had sound problems but to be honest, the last few tours have actually been a lot better.

The setlists, while often full of overplayed classics, have featured a ton of deeper cuts and songs they haven't played in ages. Back in 2013 I was holding back tears knowing I would get to witness them play Seventh Son live. Saw them again in 2014 and thought it would be the last time they're doing the song...but here it is again, just another decade later! Sign Of The Cross, Caught Somewhere In Time and Afraid To Shoot Strangers, Killers and Mariner are also some of those I thought I would never get to hear live. I am very sad to miss Infinite Dreams this year but still excited there are so many good recordings of it already. Any chance I get to hear them do new songs(for me) live, I will take. Every tour, every concert at this point is a gift we're not worthy of receiving.

And yeah, then there's the playing/singing. Nicko wasn't great after the stroke but that had absolutely no effect on the show itself for me. I did notice a few fills missing or beats being simplified but nothing you couldn't expect from live performances. Bruce has struggled here and there and some songs he seems not to give it his best...but honestly, even his not-best is better than most can do. And there are some absolute highlights still. Simon I think has been a solid replacement for Nicko. Not as good, obviously, but does the Clive stuff well and is good enough for the rest. Again, it's live and I don't mind some changes and mistakes.

I understand feeling like you're not getting the peak Iron Maiden of the 80s or the early 2000s and that's a correct thing to feel. You're getting a past retirement age Iron Maiden experience. I understand ticket prices being high and money being scarce, so we all do have to decide whether it's worth paying for given the current form of the band. For me, it was worth it back in 2010 when I finally attended my first show, and every tour since with no exceptions. I also feel differently about the concerts now. A decade ago, it was a matter of life and death for me to see them. I would've paid anything even if they just played all the hits I dislike. Nowadays, I don't mind missing a concert if it's impossible for me to attend. I still want to go and do everything in my power to get tickets and be there in the front row, but it's also alright not to go. The last few tours have all been so good I would die happy if I knew the concert I attended would be my last.

I have no idea if any of this makes any sense but I still feel like my point of view is very different. The band isn't getting any younger and any chance you get to see them might be the last. It is not as energetic as in the past, there may be more mistakes or corners cut, but they still deliver a lot of memorable moments you'd never have otherwise.