Did people move on? Or did the franchise? There were three Bioshock games in one generation then absolutely nothing since. It just vanished.
I think the better comparison on whether or not Bioshock 2 matters is Big Daddy in 2008:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/poll/3255-division-3-round-1-balthier-big-daddy-gordon-scorpion
Yeah, I know, LFF. But here he basically performed on Gordon the same as he did on Tifa. And thats a much more fresh and recent Big Daddy. It should be quite an uncontroversial take to have 2010 Big Daddy as stronger than 2008 Big Daddy.
Its not just freshness or being western, a lot of western characters got stronger, eg Kratos. The reason some fell off hard is their series vanished entirely, which is a bigger games industry issue.
Supposedly theyve been trying to get a new Bioshock off the ground for a decade with no luck.
I just decided to change this sig.
Blaaaaaaargh
azuarc