Jan van Leyden
Adventurer
Stretching a timeline by adding a few more things isn't exactly keep with the rich and deep history of the Realms when those entries are only a few paragraphs long. When you compare books like the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and Lost Empires of Faerun then there is no comparison.
Many many characters who have had ongoing stories in the Realms were killed off with no known story as to what happened to them. People that are new to the game may see an extended timeline for the Realms but no real knowledge of all the history that came before unless they somehow find out about the old books and get their hands on them. I know it mentions the Grand History of the Realms in the campaign guide, but that book is no longer in print.
We essentially have several different versions of the Forgotten Realms. The first would be pre-Times of Trouble, then something(s) intermediate, and finally the post-scourge world of 4e, disregarding stuff like Lost Empires for simplicity's sake. These different game worlds share some facts, but each is distinct on its own.
I see this is a great solution with lots of opportunities. Pick the rules version you're most comfortable with and select the world version you like best. Want to play Times of Trouble with 4e? Just ditch Dragonborn and Tieflings and off you go.