BAM! Sometimes, one of a composer's stylistic characteristics is doing things that are uncharacteristic of them! A "stylistic-side-stepping" if you will ...
I almost missed this nugget:
Is this what you actually believe?
Maybe I'm taking this out of context or something, but being "fully committed" to something doesn't mean ignoring outside influences and not allowing for progress or growth. I wonder what our musical landscape would be like if we couldn't change our style as we went along!
You can't let your style "harden" - we have to be constantly exploring and moving forward to be making any meaningful or creative music.