I think if we conducted a survey of D&D users, we'd find that very few of them use custom backgrounds, even though they've been a choice in the PHB since 2014. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the same thing with the 2024 PHB.
But is that by choice or because of not reading the rules? Is expecting people to not read the rules reasonable?
I think we must design the world for the human beings we have, not the human beings we wish them to be.
Maybe under language phrase it as "Pick any language (for example Halfling)". So you're got your picked-out option, but it's super-clear that it's just an option.
I think that's an excellent compromise and doesn't meaningfully impact word count or layout, both of which matter quite a bit.
That's a tough sell to corporate masters who want to see year over year growth, not declines or plateauing.
To be honest I did not know I could make a custom background until I read the UA and compared it to the material in the PHB. Which I probably would not have read it so closely if I did not decide to make a YouTube video on the UA.
Yeah, it's the kind of thing WotC would have to do and even that only goes out to people who opt-in to the survey, who won't be statistically identical to the full universe of D&D players.
