The core D&D fanbase seems very conservative in its attitude to published setting material, and seems very hostile to material that closely emulates the liiterary roots of fantasy. By this second clause I mean that there has never been a popular D&D setting I can think of that follows JRRT's bascially Christian (but pre-incarnation) theology, nor REH's absence of gods but presence of Cthulhu-esque beings and "fiends". Personally I feel this has been driven by a desire to "domesticate" the cleric class without going back to its obvious literary/historical roots.Hearing so many people talk about how 4E did this well is music to my ears, and it makes me wonder how well the Nentir Vale and all the 4E lore would have been received had it all been attached to the 5E system instead.
So I think the answer to your question is "I think it would still have been controversial."
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