They've tried that approach (generic forms) many times and it's always dreadful, won't be any different this time. Players want to actually transform into specific beast. Generic forms are balanced, practical, but don't scratch that itch.
Yes, I know it means extra pages of stat-blocks appended to your character sheet. Thems the breaks.
That's pretty much exactly what most of the criticism regarding the wildshape changes is saying. It's the innate abilities that actually give monsters their flavour and variety that people want, not just a generic blob. They've misjudged what people want out of wildshape, and how it's used by non-moon druids.
