Hollywood has always done remakes. The Wizard of Oz that everyone loves was a remake. There was a 1910 film, then a 1925 film, before the 1939 film. We look back and say the '39 film is superior, but I wonder if people at the time believed that.
I'm personally waiting for the next remake of "The Jazz Singer" starring Justin Timberlake! But seriously... If you think about it, most of the beloved Disney Classics weren't original ideas. Walt just took a bunch of classic tales and turned them into movies. Granted, they were done very well, but they weren't original.
The movies used to be art made by artists. When the old studio system collapsed it was taken over by corporations that had no idea how to make a movie. Clearly the only thing they would see it as is a money making venture, not an artistic one. Most artistic ventures bought out by corporate interests suffer the same consequences (look at the audio electronics industry).
That said, not all remakes are bad. Do you really think the original Frankenstein is the best one? No, the Thomas Edison silent version. Yeah, I thought so.
Look at us, whining about there not being any good movies. Combined we probably have more props and cotsumes than some studios. Why don't we make more films?
Maybe just short "pitch" films. Post 'em on YouTube. If they get enough hits, take it to a studio and say "Look at THIS. People are interested in THIS. Develop THIS into a movie."
Or we can just complain.
On the other hand, I do enjoy the movie going experience, and if studios rereleased films on a regular basis, I'd probably go see them.
