I personally have no issues with characters on favorite shows evolving, or similar evolutions of musical groups, authors, etc.

I love House not because of a set cast of characters or a predetermined personality response from House himself, but because I genuinely love his character, so I get a great satisfaction out of seeing him grow and challenge himself. Plus, the writers are really not pulling any punches, from the recent suicide to House's delusions and him hitting bottom, committing himself and his experience with other inmates.