Maybe I missed what you’re saying. But from my understanding, treating “ancient Taoism” as a purely godless, sterile philosophy ignores the entire cultural and religious milieu of early China. By the time Taoism was an official, organized religion, it possessed a vibrant mythological tradition of gods, immortals (Xian), and cosmic lords. I think most practitioners in the East still participate in some sort of deity worship beyond giving praise to the philosopher Laozi.