This is a question about the popularity of D&D right now, more than being a question about any specific element of 5E.
It boils down to this: if it wasn't 5E (pick a different edition, it doesn't matter) but all the other circumstances were the same -- a new edition in 2014, references in the media, Critical Role and streaming in general, etc... -- would D&D still be having a major pop-cultural moment?
In other words: is there something special about 5E that created this moment, or does it "just happen to be" that 5E is the current edition?
It boils down to this: if it wasn't 5E (pick a different edition, it doesn't matter) but all the other circumstances were the same -- a new edition in 2014, references in the media, Critical Role and streaming in general, etc... -- would D&D still be having a major pop-cultural moment?
In other words: is there something special about 5E that created this moment, or does it "just happen to be" that 5E is the current edition?