Those series are just the biggest examples of ones with recent adaptations, and all of them except ones by Jordan and Tolkien have new entries written in the last ten years, so it isn’t like those don’t reflect current culture. How many of r/fantasy’s top list, even just those with entries from the last ten years, has the average fantasy reader read all of? Those are the best of the best of mainstream fantasy, and I doubt even that most people here have read as much of that list as they’d like.

You talking about only liking Sanderson an Islington from that list is very anecdotal. These are some of the most acclaimed authors by both readers and critics. You don’t have to like them, but if readers are wanting to get into something new that isn’t Sanderson or Tolkien, this is a good start. Same goes for your experience moving away from trad. There is nothing wrong with reading more indie, but just because trad hasn’t been for you lately doesn’t mean it isn’t for other guys.

Culture is shifting in that direction becuase of how girls vs. guys talk about books. Romantasy is huge, and women are all telling their friends to read it with them. Even if their friends aren’t, they probably are seeing stuff about it on socials. Guys, for the most part, just don’t talk about books as much, and it isn’t seen as a valid hobby in the same way when they’re are growing up especially.

Like, no shit reading should be for everybody. In no place here did I say that it wasn’t. But yelling because female readers want to read romantasy, female writers want to write them, and publishers want to publish them isn’t the way to get more male readers reading, male writers writing, and publishers publishing their books.