After more than a decade of running Realms-based campaigns, I am quite comfortable with the setting. I don't know every nook and cranny, but at the very least I know which resource to peruse for inspiration. And that's exactly what I want from the Next FRCS: inspiration. I want lore, history, ploot hooks. I want NPCs with interesting backstories, quirks, and personalities.
I don't want stats for gods (who are, IMC, beyond stats) or major NPCs (if I ever need them, I can easily make them up myself and they'll fit my vision better). I don't want generic innkeepers and clones of west European villages. I don't want Realms-shattering events. I don't want the inclusion of materials from other settings (Dragonborn, Warforged, etc) to be force-fed to me; optional sidebars - sure, why not; shattering the world to accomodate the latest race or eliminate a class - NO. JUST NO.
FTR, if Elminster is bothering you, just don't use him. If you're allowing him to overshadow the PCs (at any level), you're doing it wrong.