Linux was called 'obsolete' in 1992, and now it powers servers around the world
(www.xda-developers.com)
If backwards compatibility bothers you, then replace it with “a series of well defined ISAs”
This is exactly what I'm saying, its not well defined architecture. You never know if the next ARM CPU will be compatible or not to any existing variants.
which still does not define the RISC philosophy as a whole
What do you mean? ARM is a RISC CPU. The entire philosophy of RISC is that anyone can implement this RISC system, and no guarantees are made to be compatible with any prior CPU. We have RISC CPUs since the beginning of 80s.
The official Acorn RISC Machine (ARM) project started in October 1983.