It might be a long wait for that funeral because, as you pointed out, the only way those ’loads of better options’ are better is if you only compare the “tone perspective”. Many of those better options are lacking years later with user interface and or effects, midi, etc. etc.
Since buyers also need those things Kemper is still one of upper tier competitors.
Its current tech is at a roadblock and the mkii isn’t likely to change that but Kemper can keep selling product until all those better options up their game to compete with a whole package. That last 5% better accuracy for a capture/ modeled sound isn’t enough to drive a stake in Kempers heart if keeps getting packaged in an incomplete piece of hardware.