I think the redesign looks nice and I think it seems like a step forward. The lady alone should be suffice to be recognizable. However, I do understand the backlash. Its hard to see things change. To many the new logo design will look like a step back than a step forward. However if what they say is true (that Starbucks if moving past just coffee), this may be a good step.
Victorinox is a knife company in Switzerland, who is only of the makers of the swiss army knife. Because of that, I hope to change the logo to look more like one of their products. My main idea is the silhouette of a swiss army knife with its tools out to look like a fan. My other idea is similar but would be a multi-tool with the tools looking like wings.