I know what your saying. But then what other ideas could the really do? To be fair FrienRAB pretty much was built around the Ross/Rachel relationship. With the other story lines fitting along side much the way SATC was around Carrie & Big and the other storylines.
Two very different programmes like you say with/without live audiences, mulit-angle camera usage or not and laughter tracking etc. But when it comes down to the very basic they were built in that same way. In various stages R&R/C&B together, not together. dating other people, being single and at the end of both series finally getting back together.
If they do it well there could be alot of money to be made from it. There must still be a thirst for it as 5 years on people are still talking about the idea and getting excited about there mere unconfirmed prospect of the film.
Before SATC & Simpsons went big screen people will have said the same about them, but now SATC:2 is being filmed and there are rumours about a possible 2nd Simpsons movie too?