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In my opinion, strategically outplaying an opponent on the map, or playing beautifully—and if possible, carrying a difficult layout—is a hundred times more valuable than crushing them with one-unit stacks (meat), winning by luck, or due to an opponent's mistake. I have always watched your streams of Heroes 3 (SoD) with great interest.

Firstly, I would start by saying that the top players in SoD and HotA are practically the same people, or more or less so; this indicates that at least the gameplay of both versions is understood better than anyone else's by the same group of people. My point is that calling HotA "not Heroes" sounds somewhat cult-like. Armag put it more accurately when asked about HotA: he said that only official versions are played and streamed on his channel.
Secondly, regarding the non-linearity of SoD: the vast majority play on 6lm10a, complaining about Blue having only one path and searching for Necro as a main/support to buff skeletons, and a support mage for DD, TP.
Thirdly (firstly), the HotA generator completely beats the SoD generator. Many people on streams don't even understand what a "block" on the road is and mistake any level 1-2 neutrals standing on the road for one, whereas in SoD, blocks of strong monsters that are impossible to break through without losses are common.
Fourthly, I don't really understand why not make 3 stacks 100% in SoD; after all, it eases the start for any Castle.
Fifthly, the community. For example, I don't have time to "wait hours for an opponent" because first and foremost I work, rather than wasting time.
Sixthly, it is foolish to criticize one version or another, because everyone has already decided what they want to play; those who say "I am fundamentally for HotA and against SoD" are far fewer than those who are true SoD-ers. I'll repeat myself: it looks exactly like a cult.