D&D and keepsake games are set to collide in 2024, and I’m here for it

I'll have a try at why some may feel that way about D&D. Gary Gygax, one of the originators of D&D, was a historical miniatures wargamer. He was also really into fantasy fiction, so he shifted from writing historical to fantasy wargaming rules and also tacked on a storytelling element. The two modes were pretty distinct in his version, and it was others who developed the greater integration you see today. Still, D&D shows its miniatures heritage in being more combat oriented than most later TTRPGs.

He can't, he's an NPC work a fixed dialog.

It's intentionally polarizing, not potentially

I can't speak to the intentions of the post above but if you're wondering what "wokeness" has to do with D&D I can share a summary of what I know. WoC are removing some content related to race and "half breeds" that editors of the system feel may reflect real life racist attitudes.

I personally view this as a positive and hopeful opportunity to refresh and add new content that makes D&D what it is, stranger, weirder, and less entrenched in some of the WWI Tolkien style industrial and racist attitudes that have always been present in fantasy settings.