The underground in contrast takes these huge liberties to bend the definition of trance in an attempt to make things fit ... and the majority of the scene cannot relate or find any connection in them.
A different perspective. Sure, the content of /r/trance is stale, but it's because there is a market for it. Casual & new fans getting their supersaw breakdown kicks, and good for them really. Many do not care or know the evolution of the sound. The underground stuff you mention however, is not trying to fit the more recent definition of trance. Think of it as the rejection of what trance has become. I do wish there were more outright melodic tracks, but in digging deep this year I've got 140ish tracks in the 'best of 2022' part of my library that are truly trance & prog trance with little bending of the genre. The rest (400+ tracks) of the 2022 haul is quite eclectic, but it makes mixing more fun for me as I explore adjacent sound of breaks, acid infused trancey electro, dark hypnotic goa, and everything in between. The fact this area of music is not all just trance is actually a major plus for me.
As for the scene relating to it, nothing but excitement from my observations. Most people however aren't looking or aren't aware of its existence. Tracks are selling, mixes have plentiful numbers, and the scene is growing slowly. NuTrance mixes won the last two years of /r/trance mixcomps. Been discussing with olschool tranceheads and some are actually mixing new music for the first time in 15 years (the pre-2005 only crowd). And it's so bloody diverse there is something for everyone. If the scene has to regrow to thrive, and i don't think it will happen fostering the same old idea of what it is. It's coming from the roots of that old tree of music people forgot. Bring it.
