From what I've sen, these beers are far beyond the cloudiness you get in a weissbier.
American IPAs have gone way beyond the IBUs of the british ones haven't they?
I fail to see the connection.
I suppose the connection would be that if it is ok for "west coast" IPA's and APA's to be out of style on IBU's, it is ok for "east coast" IPA's and APA's to be out of style on clarity.
That said - MURKY beers are not good in my experience. I have had LOTS of really good "hazy" IPA's. I have had very few "murky" IPA's that I would call good. I am not a fan or advocate of the "yeast milkshake."
Personally, the thing I tend to like about the "NE IPA" is the emphasis on less bitterness and more flameout/dry hop. Chloride over sulfate. Personally, I like the smoother hop flavor as opposed to the piney bitterness and assertive bite of many IPA's.
One thing I do absolutely agree on as a downfall of the "hazy" beers..... I think it does hurt the shelf life and the flavor can be less stable. But, I have had some unbelievable beers of this style fresh, or at the source. Hopefully with NHC out east, maybe some west coasters will get a chance to sample some of the beers fresher and in better condition than they might have been able to in the past. There really are some good beers being made in this "style."
In the end, there are a lot of great beers out there. Pliny is great. Firestone Walker beers, Ballast Point, Two Hearted, Bear Republic..... etc..... along with Lawsons, Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, Bissel Brothers, Other Half, Tree House....etc. I have had both spectacular and terrible clear beers. Spectacular and terrible "hazy" beers.
I am always open to trying anything. Whether or not I buy a second I leave to my experience with the first.