WotC has shown they're quite comfortable with setting fire to the established canon when they think it serves the best interests of the game. That smoke you smell is the smoldering ruins of the Great Wheel, for instance.
Yeah, but honestly like maybe 12 people truly liked the Great Wheel. It was shoddily presented, rarely referenced, and frequently overwritten by gods in other realms.
People love blaster Wizards. To the point where WotC had to introduce spells and powers to let Wizards blast harder, even though they introduced two classes designed to be 'blasty arcane casters' (Sorcerer and Warlock).
Keeping people happy is important. No one cries when the Great Wheel dies. People get angry if their wizard can't leave smoking craters in the landscape (even if it's like... the least effective thing a Wizard can do).