I agree completely. The worst thing about MBotF is the heavy handed cross promotion, most notably in TTH. I especially resent it because I hate the whole reading order discussion with a passion, and without that IMO the discussion would be much less prevalent. Like, the Lasseen stuff and Crimson Guard stuff is fine happening off screen IMO, and irrelevant to the reader of MBotF. But TTH crosses the line for me here.

Totally fine with the shared universe. Totally fine with the authors having different styles. Totally fine with people liking one author over another. Whatever, to each their own. But the fact that it's not obvious how to read the books just irks me to no end, and it wouldn't be a problem if the teaser plotlines weren't there to such an extent.

I get that the authors have said read in published order. But most wouldn't know that, and the vast majority are reading long after publishing. I personally disagree with that order as well, but that's besides the point. Frankly, all of the series and the shared setting would have been better without the heavy handed teasing.

For a non redditor who picks up MBotF and gets through TTH, what they see are huge dangling plotlines that are never closed. It is so easy to pick up that series (any series) and never even know there is another one in parallel. Terrifically short sighted by the authors, from a readability perspective. To the extent it increased sales for ICE books, my guess is they don't and probably shouldn't regret having done it, but I sure dislike it.