I had a ‘91 Mitsubishi Eclipse with pop-ups, and later a ‘93 Miata. I liked the pop ups on both, though I think later model Eclipses look better with the flush lights. I’m kind of indifferent between the new and old Miatas, but if they were getting rid of the pop ups, I wished they would have gone with something round to further evoke the traditional MG/Triumph roadster spirit the original intended to capture.
I have a ‘92 Miata and have had a soft spot for them since they came out just around the time I turned 16 and I grew up in the ‘80s when pop-ups were the epitome of cool. I know the market for Miatas because I want to get another one as a project car to work on with my teenage sons and have been blown away by how much they are going for these days.
I get what you are saying about evoking the MGs and Triumphs, but I like the second generation (NB) Miatas as they are. They evoke the old roadsters with all the best elements of the driving experience: top down, short wheelbase, very light and tossable, tight cornering, joyfully ripping through the gears. Ford’s influence on the third generation lost the essence a little bit but the newest generation brought it back, once you get past the squinty head lights.
One thing I really like about the NBs is carry a lot of the design language from the drop-dead gorgeous third gen RX-7. Now there is a car with pop-ups... whoa momma!