I hear you, Flightpath. I'm always saddened whenever I read John Byrne's comments regarding Alpha Flight. I've always thought that Alpha Flight is the best work he's ever done, (besides his Uncanny X-Men and Fantastic Four runs). The 80's were a golden time for John Byrne.
Since then, I've tried to get into other comics that he's worked on, and have been unable to do so. And I honestly tried to like these books, and gave them a real chance, but...nothing.
Maybe, it's just AF prejudice, but I really think his work has gone downhill since then. It seems to have lost its spark and originality.
Alpha Flight was and is gold, and it's a shame that John Byrne doesn't see it that way.