Is it safe to inovate now-a-days?

I have to ask this question. I am a newly high school graduate and aspiring game designer and looking forward to getting enough funding one day to go to school for it. For now I study them on my own.

But I ask you, look at all the following games: Killer 7, No More Heroes, Shadow of the Colossus, Rez, Psychonauts and Earthbound. These are all games that tried something different but were not appreciated until it was too late even by the "hardcore audience". Is design by today's target demographic limiting potential? I'm not saying I want to re-invent the wheel, but I want to know IF (in your opinion) innovation is more limited in this generation AND if so to what extent.

To tell you the truth, I'm kinda nervous about trying something intriguing when I get into the industry... I also want to hear on games you think tried something "different" and were good. Braid did this in a way with modest subtlety. It didn't necessarily "bomb" because his work was eventually recognized for what he wanted to portray. I know everything is to be taken with small steps, I just want to know If I'm alone thinking about this...