I think its other people who are fixating on the past.
What Axl likes to think (and with all his yes men around it makes this pretty dangerous) is that he could just lock himself away in his house for 10 years and people would simply forget that there was anyone in Gn'R aside him.
There's nothing wrong with him moving on to do his thing, but if your "thing" is based on something else then have to always expect the past being brought up.
They're definitely being rewarded for PAST accomplishments as oppose to anything they've done since Slash's departure no?
Axl could really turn this around though. Accept the award. Give the old band their props for each being 1/5th of what got THEM there and finally promote your new band and music. Dude would be nothing but a gentleman and it might actually blow some new life and legitimacy into the new, GnR.
~S~