I meant to say, that metaphorically, the Tale of Turin Turambar has been played out. I won't go any further on this, except to say it is a sad affair (just like the story was very sad.)
-
There were only a limited number of ways that a New Player in D&D *could* access OD&D, 1st Edition, 2nd Edition, and 3rd Edition products:
1: He could find them in a used bookstore or comic book store that sold old collectables.
2: He could buy the product on e-bay, searching under D&D and Older Products.
3: He could buy it from online gaming stores that sold old products.
4: He could access it online, downloading it for a fee (or, in some cases, for free.)
Option 4 was just deleted, indefinitely.
Options 1, 2, and 3 are often used by us, the Old Timers. We remember the old game, and we actively search for the old products. The old products have meaning for us.
Option 4 was the only viable option for anyone new to the game.
Those new to the game, those casually entering the game for the first time, are not going to employ options 1, 2, and 3.
They are going to buy from bookstores, from gaming stores, and from online sources. And these sources, cut off from selling older material, will sell only new material.
Those new to the Hobby, will never see the older editions.
Effectively, the older editions are being erased. Just erased. Their memory will live on only within us, the Old Timers.
Or, until the rights to the old editions are released, and someone (WOTC or otherwise) decides to place the great library of What Once Was back on the Internet.