I think people miss the purpose of icons. To be effective, they need to be distinguishable and memorable so that you can find them when needed. If I need to find something that I'm not familiar with, I'm more likely to use a text label to figure it out than to try to guess by the picture. An ideal icon would have a lot in common with an ideal logo.
The current trends are somewhat troubling. Removing color makes an icon less distinguishable, and changing icons yearly makes them less memorable. The reason the floppy disk icon is still useful so many years after it stopped being relevant is because it hasn't changed.
I do miss the richness of imagery that skeumorphism provided, I find it more visually appealing than the abstract flat look. I realize this is a matter of opinion though. How ironic that as enhanced displays allow for more realistic renditions than ever, the trend is to move away from realism.
The current trends are somewhat troubling. Removing color makes an icon less distinguishable, and changing icons yearly makes them less memorable. The reason the floppy disk icon is still useful so many years after it stopped being relevant is because it hasn't changed.
I do miss the richness of imagery that skeumorphism provided, I find it more visually appealing than the abstract flat look. I realize this is a matter of opinion though. How ironic that as enhanced displays allow for more realistic renditions than ever, the trend is to move away from realism.