I hadn't really looked at the Tremoline, but it does seem to solve some of the issues people have with FR systems. I don't know if what it provides is worth it to 'upgrade', but if you need to replace a non-functioning Floyd, it makes sense.
Yes- it was a really cool scheme. I don't own the guitar anymore, but the pickups and sound weren't the issue (weight and balance were). I just got an HSS Music Man (with stock DiMarzios), with their 'Silent Circuit' (dummy coil array) and it is dead quiet. And it sounds great!
'Tradition' is part of it, but also inserts cost time and money. And the number of people that takes the neck off of a guitar is pretty small. But, I'm with you. If you do this a lot, inserts are fantastic.