Ragnarok is correct: money takes precedence over everything else. Anything only holds value if it pulls in greater profit.
Sad but true indeed. On the other hand, WotC does have a stake in this as owners of the IP. But I guess when I see the ugly ass artwork of those Minsc DnD comics and the recent DnD MtG crossover, they also don't give too many fucks about a consistent and immersive representation of Faerûn anymore. Alas, O tempora, o mores something something.
A good counter example would be Game of Thrones initial success in reviving fantasy after the Tolkien film adaptations. It's exactly because of its low magic and highly 'credible' world building that it could attract both old and new people to fantasy. The last season of the TV show, however, also serves as a strong warning against dropping consistency in the narrative and simply seeking profit. You might still make huge profits, but you lost the moral battle for integrity and the immaterial value created by being considered authentic good quality work.
In spite of my disappointment with the state of the industry, I maintain that deep veins of quality material (tabletop gaming or otherwise) lie out there undiscovered; creators who place passion/the aforementioned consistency above profit (the ones who have yet to be cowed by corporate pressure, in other words) don't receive nearly as much press unless they catch a lucky break...and then the compromises begin . Fortunately, for artists, the internet is an equalizing force.
. Fortunately, for artists, the internet is an equalizing force.