How about innovative preservation? If it could be shown the improvement would tend to make the "item" more usefully highlighted so future generations could enjoy it to a greater extent. Isn't that the real "reason" for preservation?
Case in point, we have nearby an old house that history proves that it was part of the underground railway. It was slated to be torn down because it was in such poor repair. Between donations and a lot of hard work, it has been restored to a typical house of that era. Improvements to support the structural integrity, among other things, used up to date techniques and methods done very carefully. As a result, it was even brought up to code which insured that it will be around for a long time. You would have to really search to find these "modern" features, but they are definitely there. Just because something is old, doesn't mean that it has to be abandon or worse, destroyed. So many beautiful organs have met with such fates. Another reason pointing toward the value of Hauptwerk, by very modern means, many of these historic instruments are being
virtually preserved. That for me is a big WOW !!
But I'll just bet, that I'm preaching to the choir, right?
Rgds,
Ed