I think some directors have said that they're keen to use mostly practical effects, Nolan for instance. And even Peter Jackson and Jon Favreu have attempted to stay as practical as possible on some of their films, at least when starting out.

I'm really hoping that we'll get more of a return to practical stuff in the coming years, as I think the technology and techniques have vastly improved over the last 3 decades and we could see some truly timeless effects (as I think CGI tends to date itself rather quickly, Exhibit A being Jabba in ANH:SE). The advances in compositing and rotoscoping especially (or rather, the ease of these techniques with digital stuff) and the use of computers to better combine and blend elements should make the entire visual effects process a lot easier and more seamless than it was its heyday (that I would argue culminated with Independence Day) - which were its greatest weaknesses.

Just imagine had the industry continued to refine and hone their puppetry, animatronic and motion control skills where we would be today, using the incredible sophistication of make-up and costume arts as an example of the leaps and bounds possible.