I think there's some confusion here on what exactly people are doing.  Let me define it.  You are playing magic, a card GAME.  Do not forget this.  Games, like life, are often not fair, and will never be fair.  A game, like any system, always has flaws.  Everyone is looking to balance the format and make it fair, but this is not possible.

Balancing-
If you want to make the game as balanced as possible, don't even look at T1.  Go play another format or perhaps another game.  T1 is not "balanceable".  With this many possible card combinations (which grows with each new set) there will NEVER be true balance.  Most importantly, you can never 100% balance T1 by monkeying with the restricted list.  The restricted list does "help" balance T1, but it is not a perfect solution.  I think people need to accept the limitations of the system/format.

Stagnation-
If you think the game is stagnant, maybe YOU are making it stagnant.  Think about what you're doing.  If you and all your buddies simply copy winning deck lists, what does that say about you?  What does that say about your contribution to the game and the community?   It says you suck.  I mean really, you go to a tourney and there are 5 copies of this, 3 copies of that, etc.  That ruins a tourney and the fault falls on the players for bringing the copies.  If you want to make it more interesting, have the balls to bring new decks/ideas to tourneys, and encourage your buddies to do the same.  Play responsibly.

-J