I'm a little torn on this. On the one hand, super vibrant planets are (maybe), not close to realism. But who knows, maybe they also are. Its hard to say. Our Solar system only provides a very very tiny overall sampling of the un-countable variety of actual planets and moons that lay out there. We are all used to seeing lava planets in-game, yet I don't think we have an actual example in our system. We know there are planets/moons out there that are near 100% water worlds, or near 100% desert, etc. But we have to rely on Frontiers planet forge, and how it expresses planets in game. But of course, it can all be tweaked...
Anyway...
Personally, I think the crux here, is for Frontier to have the freedom to CHANGE THINGS, without asking our permission (to a degree). If the planet team have a change of heart, and decide that planets should be closer to beige, then so be it. I really don't think 2.2 planets, or 2.0 or any other version should be held up as an image of perfection. What I mean more fully, is, they HAVE to have the ability to change the way planets look, as this entire game is a WIP.
The only difference is, to say SC, is that we are playing it whilst its being developed. So, I guess, we do tend to get attached to particular planet/moons look, and it can be jarring when it changes. I guess when its a "good" change, we shrug and accept it. When its "bad", we get a bit upset, and possibly vocal. But the problem is, its all a little subjective and THEY are the developers, they must make the decisions.
I really want to see the planet rendering system improve (a lot) over time. And those improvements will require change. Change to topology, change to variety, change to saturations, etc. So I think we just need to go along with those changes. Possibly point them out, and then let Frontier "do the right thing".
Obsidian Ant, I think by asking for "an official response" you are inviting an official re-buff, or possibly stunning silence. Your demand, well, its a challenge of sorts no? You are putting someone, possibly an entire team on the spot, and kind saying they are "wrong". Personally, I think a thread where you state a preference, and then try and get support, by other players agreeing, is probably about as much pressure as is needed. Frontier are reasonable, we know that, they listen, but I don't think they need to give "official" responses to every issue that players may feel is important to them. Not matter how passionate we may feel on an issue.
Who knows, 2.3 might ramp up the saturation a little more. Who knows what the mystery 2.4 release will bring? Only time will tell.
Besides, light and colour are a funny thing. Take star-light. If we are in a system with a yellow star, we will perceive its light as being "white". If we are in a blue-white star system, again, our vision adjusts to make that blue, appear as white. However, of course, blue light, on yellow planets, produces quite a different effect to yellow on yellow. Im not saying that the de-saturation you see is because of this. Its just that, changes to lighting can have major knock on effects, and so textures get tweaked to balance, and things "change"...