Cheap to make, can sell to MM2 fanboys, sounds like a solid strategy.
The idea that association with some "era" of things somehow affects a thing that comes long after is infuriatingly sickening. Crisis City stage in Sonic Generations is great, despite being a theme lifted from one of the worst Gen 7 games. Likewise, MM9 and 10 are heads and tails above MM2 and MM3 both in sheer polish of design, which is very lacking in the aforementioned, much beloved installments of old. I was definitely a bit disappointed when they revealed sketches for MM10 levels because ultimately the levels could've looked, and played, that much more interesting if they didn't have to limit themselves to the chosen style. Oh well.
And yes I just called MM2 out on not being particularly good.