It was the start of the decline of the show for me when they did away with the Audition Room! That was my favourite part of the show.
In recent years i struggle to stay interested in the show once the auditions are over. When they started concentrating more during the live shows on the bloody stage-sets and dancers than the actual singing i hated it.
They only used to have Dancers and stuff for the final and it makes it special then but when they started doing it right from the first live shows it spoiled the whole thing for me.
I remember when it was Pop Idol and Gareth Gates and Will Young were in the final they made a big fuss because they had custom tailored suits! No expense spared! Those were the days!!!
In general though the show was far more about finding people who could actually sing back in those days though! Cowell, on the whole, is taking the viewers for mugs. A new, much better show is needed and the X-Factor needs to roll over and breath its last breath.