Interesting how we keep getting further away from endgame allusions as the discussion becomes more nuanced.
Nobody said that 100% target curve adherence was enough to make something endgame. You also have to think about fitment, durability, sustainability, distortion, looks, comfort, ease of use... But wouldn't it be much easier for us if all these parameters were the meaningful ones, instead of being sold wonky FRs as a (hidden) feature? Most manufacturers out there don't even publish basic 711 FR graphs.
For me, Harman compliance (which is different from 100% target curve adherence) is the most important starting point for any given pair of headphones/IEMs because 1) it acknowledges proper research and 2) it ensures that the FR is good enough as-is. As I said, once you have this, normal people can resort to simple tone controls (bass/treble shelves), and geeks like us can use full-blown parametric EQs if they are still unhappy.
Personally, I wish the Novas looked like the Hexas, came in a neutral box with a standard cable, and were distributed by local dealers. But I'm considering getting those anyway, since FR is what matters most to me as an audio engineer.