I agree generally.
From what I can see Starmer has put up a meritocratic shadow team. He has shown the right distance from the past by jettisoning some of the people you mention though McDonnell was always on an out. He must have been tempted around Benn, Cooper and Jess Phillips but prudently kept them at a little arms length for now.
Whenever I saw Barry Gardiner on Newsnight or a political forum I always wondered how many potential voters he lost tonight. Others you mention and Burgon, showed what you get if you reward loyalty over capability.
A wait and see moment I guess