I love WC. I'm very new to it and think it's a great art. However, I think styles/systems do matter despite the idea that they don't when it comes to preparing someone for a real fight. Boxing offers better footwork, better punches from numerous angles, better overall movement (such as head movement), and better training for speed and timing. Simple is often better. Bruce Lee knew this. The evidence is there. As a striking art, WC falls behind boxing for real world effectiveness. It's more complete and diverse overall, but lacks the attributes that boxing offers that win fights. Add in Muay Thai elbows/kicking to boxing and you have probably the number striking art for real world self defense. Throw in BJJ and you're pretty good to go overall.
I think what KPM, Rackemann etc. are doing is fantastic. I think the blending of arts is what everyone should do.
If you love WC and get what you want out of it, that's all that matters though. Whether it's the movements, weapons, kicking or philosophy behind that keeps you motivated in mastering it, those are great things....don't stop. However, if you want to make it more street/ring/self-defense effective, modification is likely going to be necessary.
The idea that you need to train an art for 10 years to get it work is absurd IMO. Maybe 10 years to master it, but it should be effective much sooner than that or there is something wrong with it.
Bruce Lee: "someone with only 1 year of training in boxing and wrestling can easily defeat a martial artist of 20 years of experience.”