I think so much of it reflects its decades as increasingly underfunded state asset, in an era when having a state asset at all is almost unacceptable.
I imagine budget for proper replacement displays, modelling, maintenance and restoration is far harder than it used to be... Some of those exceptionals, both known and lesser known in storage, deserve far more than they now often get.
> recent closure of the old Wellcome collection ... powerfully evocative atmosphere
Ugh. That hard to define atmosphere is the part that seems to being modernised away, and a good part of what I increasingly miss. Whether it's too many "clean" experiences with acres of empty space and a few exhibits spotted around, or the changing nature of the interactive models I'm not sure. Certainly I think a lot of the screen based stuff would be better as interactive experience on the website than in the building, though when it's additional to other means, it can often work.
I wish a lot more of how they managed was additive rather than replacing great swathes with a whole new design. Most, though not all, of the new plastic and electronic approaches seem far poorer in terms of lasting, and often less engaging.
The parts I often enjoy most are the esoteric, failed but promising ideas, and the day-to-day that we forgot. So I like the odd little packed displays of thirties electricals, analogue computers,
> By the passage of time, it had become a sort of meta-museum
This is one unexplored area they could do so much more with. Beautiful teak and brass cabinets with a perfect cutaway replica of a steam turbine or whole power station might not be the modern way to do it, but they were lasting and beautiful of themselves. 8 or 10 year old me couldn't leave the place until I'd turned every handle. :)
I'm sure there's scope for a huge, and fascinating self-referential meta-museum of presenting museum science, model making and all the other back room activities through the ages. Include some of the long forgotten exhibits that included the scent of machine oil, carbon electrical brushes, the metallic bite of a little ozone and sprinkling of burnt dust - like all machinery used to come with. Oh, and a selection of those ancient models the kids can try, and fail, to break by winding too fast.
Maybe we need a museum of the museum - maybe that's V&A's territory. :)
I just hope that now Manchester Science and Industry are under the same group it brings the London Science Museum up, rather than Manchester down.