I'd rather have a great teacher than a great lineage, although having both is probably even better. Guys like Zhang Zhaodong, Tim Cartmell, Hong Junsheng, Luo Dexiu, Sun Lutang... those are guys that start lineages instead of just continuing the tradition. I would rather just call myself a student of excellent teacher X than have to rely on the reputation of my style's founder that's been dead for 150 years.
If things continue the way they're going, 20th generation students are going to excel at dancing very very slowly and not much else. I think we've all met people who are 6th or 7th generation teachers of tai chi or bagua whose art is already "dead" as far as fighting ability is concerned. Now imagine the people learning from such a lineage 200 years from now.
So yeah, you're right Graham, we "top tens" are awfully lucky.