Chaosmancer
Legend
I love new stuff, and am always a proponent of a more "progressive" approach to D&D. New worlds, styles, themes, rather than endless retreads and updates. And, as I just said in the post you quoted, I fully support making some changes to faciliate people feeling more inclusive.
But I don't see how a "big tent" approach to D&D--that includes but expands older tropes--is a bad thing. D&D has had may flavors over the years, both with editions and different settings. I'm of a mind that all such flavors should be incorporated within a "big tent" edition, from Gygaxian to Mercerian.
But not all tropes are worth saving.
Let us take the "Damsel in Distress". Classic trope, the big brutish monster has kidnapped the beautiful and fair princess to be his bride, and she will marry one of you if you go and rescue her.
Is this trope really worth keeping around? Does it truly give us anything of value?
Here's a example of what I mean, reposted from up-thread:
Is there aything that you disagree with in that quote?
I also said a couple posts ago that I can play D&D however I want to, no matter what WotC does--so the "they're not taking your books away" critique doesn't really apply to what I'm saying. But I do hope to see a diverse range and treatment of monsters and such in future books, including traditional variants (e.g. evil orc brutes).
Yeah, why bother including versions of orcs that no longer exist or are not DnD?
Tolkien's orcs were corrupted elves, a player might find that cool, but A) Tolkien's estate won't let DnD print that and B) It doesn't do you any good to know that if the DM is running a world where that isn't true.
Also, what does it help for them to know that orcs were inspired by ogres, but now they are separate things? I think you could really just cut that down to guidance on incorporating them. Because if I want to know the mythical history of orcs in folktale dating back to the greeks or beyond... I'll get a textbook written on the subject which will be much better researched and referenced that what a gaming company would be capable of doing.