What's the art like? Do we get new illustrations for the Lords of the Nine, or are they Book of Vile Darkness reprints? (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ag/20030126a)
Official 3E/v3.5 Dragonlance does use epic levels - Fistandantilus was statted at 23rd level and Raistlin was statted at 27th level. See Towers of High Sorcery and Legends of the Twins, respectively.
What historical background suggests this? Whenever they've interacted, the planar lords have traditionally dealt with gods on equal or greater terms. To quote a few examples mentioned in this thread:
So WotC has given us CR 19-23 demon lords. For those that believe this to be appropriate, let me ask this: would you also like the deities (currently creatures of roughly CR 50-70) to be reduced to the same power level?
After all, if a 20th level party should be able to destroy the princes of...