Can you name any of those "contemporary touchstones?"I whole heartedly agree with this. I love appendix N - I love Ashton Clark Smith, Howard, Lovecraft, tolkein, etc etc.
But I don't think people in their late teens or early twenties care or know about those influences/tropes/etc. Even though that's certainly my preference, I think D&D is old enough now that it needs to adapt with the times and connect with contemporary touchstones for new player bases.
It's one thing to say "adapt with the times and connect with contemporary touchstones for new player bases", but those are empty words if nobody can actually name any of those "contemporary touchstones." I named about a dozen spellcasters largely from recent best sellers earlier & most of those have quite a few best selling books about them, none of them fit the cantrip spamming 5e casters.