One way I think of digital vs film is in much the same way as typewritten to handwritten. The goal is still the same: to provide a pleasing, challenging, interesting, etc image or a pleasing, challenging, interesting, etc piece of prose.
Cameras, PCs, film, typewriters, pens - they're just tools!
Whilst I appreciate the care that went into some of the past film processing (which may or may not be apparent in the finished image) I don't uphold the methodology over the result!
So, whether it be imitating a production system or breaking new ground with new techniques, I can't say I'm too fussed - nice to know how it's achieved but not the be all and end all!