I agree with a lot of that...
I am not sure about a change per se in terms of athleticism as much as a definite (and unique) focus on size (and, still unsure whether that really makes sense or not...but, there is a focus on it).
I am not sure if that is a product of what he likes to do offensively, or, something that he feels like gives him an advantage of some sort...does not really matter, as, it is a clear and conscious decision, and, he has gone that way.
My knock...class imbalance...it has not haunted him/Purdue as it may have, but, it has been poised to do so certainly. He has managed to land a couple of really good big classes more than once...not easy to do...which is why I hate it, and, he has not been able to successfully add to/round out classes a couple of times as a result as well.
And, I agree in that there is not the strict adherence offensively that there is defensively...and, that he has a great knowledge of that side of things...it is why I dreaded the loss of Shrewsberry...even Gary had come along way in that regard...I was not enamored with Johnson last year...which, all goes to another point entirely...his staff...he has had some great assistant coaches during his time...I am not sure how great the staff is presently.
As things stand, I don't know with NIL and transfer portal and COVID years what matters, never mind what matters most.
I guess my concern, and, belief even (at least to an extent) is that Painter's best days (and, Purdue's as such) have already happened...and, while there have been some really nice things that have happened and a bunch of wins along the way, I have to think the consensus would be that Purdue has had a handful of chances during his time where a FF run was not only realistic, but, even a somewhat reasonable expectation...never more so than this past year.