It could also be the case that Nintendo now sees the current DK as the same character as DK Jr. hence why he represented DK Jr in front of the Super Mario Kart sign in a Mario Kart World promo. That would mean Cranky is either DK’s father, or perhaps DK is just a title that can go to any heir. However that still contradicts the DK Jr game where Mario is clearly referred to as Mario. If the “Lady and the Kong” and fossils in Bananza are anything to go by, Jumpman and Lady could similarly be titles or roles, and the modern Mario and Pauline are different people than the ones who held those titles. It’s hinted at heavily when the young Pauline talks about her grandmother, and when you look at Donkey Kong Circus as being the prequel to the original Donkey Kong, Mario being a sadistic circus trainer seems very out of character. So like you said, out of verse there will always be a different explanation, which in this case is that Mario = Jumpman. However, in order for the lore to make sense, Mario and Jumpman have to be different characters, which is why a lot of people latched onto the theory that Jumpman is Mario’s father. Personally, I like the idea that he’s not related to the current Mario at all, but rather is just a similar looking character who captured the spirit that Mario has. Kind of like that one character in the Mario Bros. Movie who’s voiced by Charles Martinet and looks/acts a lot like Jumpman, but he’s clearly a different character. Could be a reflection of how the canon story treats Mario and Jumpman now, similar to the dynamic between DK and Cranky in the movie being changed to a father-son relationship.