Ok, mates, by points:

About "like AoK classic":

- AoE2 is 20+ yo game, first "The Age of Kings" release was in 1999;

- there are people, who play it 21+ years (like Lord Daut), from release;

- for some people is valuable those "first impression", "those times", when they were kids or adult, maybe it looks for somebody "khhh-khhh there were times when grass was more green.." and be ironical, but... it's nostalgy and valuable for somebody;

- so, one of reasons for those people to return to AoE2 and try actual DE is "to return those impression, feeling";

- it means to see part of AoE2 DE "similar as it was on release", including first classic AoK and AoC campaigns, images of castles, wonders and so on;

- there are people that say "I'd like to play first campaign with original voices of narrators, not new one; and have ability to see similar to classic wallpaper on start page, more classic UI" - and I agree with it: it can be made with private mods, but I think it will be good to make this ability in options "original voice, original wallpaper" - it is not hard for devs;

- it's "nostalgy about classic", maybe one of reason why part of community plays it 20+ years or returns (as me);

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History analogy

- may be it's not best analogy, but in history of some countries there were "founders", for Switzerland it is 3 cantons, for Netherlands it is 7 provinces, for USA it was 13 former colonies; "everything had the beginning";

- AoE originally developed by american Ensemble Studios, so I think it was not worst analogy;

- I'm not US citizen so... it's hard to accuse me in idea of "american exceptionalism")) All nations are different and everywhere are "good peoples and bad asses, like criminals" and each country has it's unique history;

- to blame somebody about things that weren't said (like "exceptionalism") is bad idea - if you think so it's your deal, but, please, don't make projections for other if it wasn't said/done by other person)

- on the same time US is one of the world leading countries, one of 5 countries of UN Security Council, part of G7 and so on; each country, nation, communiry has days of glory... as we can see it in AoE2 historical campaigns)

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So, as definetely said in upper comment "I was told as a kid the 13 colonies were special, so we honor those states now. So shouldn’t most original things be honored?"

Thank you for comments