Nope incorrect 4e is very blatant about enabling taking the flavor text elements and wielding authorial power over them presenting them the way you like... it just encourages and provides a starting point (and yes we discuss how particular Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies fit into the DMs game world when they come up so it isn't some completely 1 sided thing without Player nor without DM involvement - its pretty much a part of that open flavoring aspect) , i go a step forward and use the players ideas about their origins to help seat elements of my game world... ie more player investment.
Heck murder hobos is partly a side effect of players who do not think in terms of the world or looking forward to their character within it or start from a point of estrangement like sociopaths.The game makes better players with these offerings as far as I am concerned.
The Fighters castle on the hill was a bad implementation of a good idea, because it railroaded player goals. So I am assuming Paragon Paths are left by the wayside too. ie pretty much leaving nothing for that fighter to look forward to nor encouraging DMs to think about either ie.
Ya got this part right its player empowering which makes it entirely different than a DM handing out a few late game boons at his infinite discretion.
No more than the 4e one it is well established the distinction between flavor/fiction and mechanics and frankly I find this utterly disingenuous to pretend otherwise.
The full extent of
"The DM might allow a player to select a boon for his or her character, subject to their approval."
WHEN yup I am certain at 20th level yeh that is providing aspiration and what are you going to do show them that bald list of these feat like items
4e was massively critiqued because it didnt bake in flavor 4e is positively rich with flexible fungible flavor compared to this after thought
- is pretty paltry nor do boons talk at all about nor provide any starting point for the fiction of making a development in the story driven by the player but rather treats them like handing out like treasure LOL sheesh.
4e HAD boons they were not Epic Destinies nor are 5es boons.
I like players defining their goals and these game features encourage them to think in terms of the future of their character (and as I said they are sometimes or even often adjusted to fit the narrative game world)
Yes you do see they are dramatically different and do not count as the same function at all... a player looking forward toward the storyline he invested in is entirely different from one who might be given "some minor power boost"" by the DM at really high level sheesh.
How do I use boons to accomplish what paragon paths and epic destinies ie the things I want to accomplish might be the question.