When a good band jumps ship early, they obviously cut their losses and save themselves from having a few quality records diluted in a largely inferior discography. It's kind of sad to see bands who were once at the top of their game stick around way past their expiration date. I can think of a lot of death metal bands alone off the top of my head who ended on a high note (Angel Corpse, Demilich, God Macabre, even Carcass to a lesser extent), and perhaps I and others remember them more fondly for that. At one point I probably would have chosen those who quite while they were ahead, but over time I've grown to appreciate how bands evolve over longer stretches. I really do prefer when an older band can stick it out and still catch my ear after 8 or 9 records, even if their entire catalogue isn't flawless. Priest, Napalm Death or My Dying Bride, for instance, have had less than stellar periods in their careers, but they both bounced back at points. And even if they didn't exactly top the great tunes they wrote early on, they still made something worthwhile and I love to see bands redeem themselves.
Actually, in some ways, I almost prefer a band with a few duds on their track record since it helps me to better appreciate the good albums they shoot back with while showing they have a taste for being adventurous. Because as much as I think Cannibal Corpse can still compentently write a good song, it doesn't really matter when it's basically the same song they already wrote several times years ago.
