How many of the thousands of customers that are in the queue for the Emira, have the driving experience with all the different models of cars that Jethro, Catchpole, Harry, Harris, etc. have? Those guys are an extreme minority in that regard, due to what they do for a living. I would bet the vast majority of Emira customers will be quite happy with the handling of the Emira, especially if it's their first Lotus. How many people even bother to check to see if their tire pressures are properly set? The average person's driving experience and habits are quite different from the leading-edge hardcore types. The expectations and perceptions of highly experienced vehicle testers doesn't really carry over to the average driver, other than if there's something seriously off with a car.
The Emira is going to be the first Lotus to reach customers outside of their hardcore base, and that's a good thing. It means Lotus will finally be making the kind of money it needs to stay in business and grow.