HoMM3 HD is a mod (add-on) for the game Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

It's always easier to simply add functionality than to add functionality plus an option.
What appeared in 3.26 is not the final version.
I don't see anything terrible in this.

That's not how things should be done. Couldn't they have just not added anything at all, but instead brought things to completion and then released it? Or did the situation with Quick Battle not teach them anything? Your question is only about whether it's easier or not. What's the point of this? Is it just to annoy Sav or someone else who is far removed from online play, or to play with the opinions of the players? I'm playing (or was playing) in the current tournament on 3.25, and I've already updated without even looking. And in that version, whether the second level is built or not significantly affects the gameplay. And now what? I was only interested in passwords before.

Moreover, how can it be worse than, say, the creatures of levels 2-6 in the refugee camps, or the lack of the quick battle bug that exists in HD+?
In my opinion, it's much less terrible...

Well, with the same logic, they could have added a built guild of mages, or even the third level, and in general, anything they wanted - what's so terrible about that, since HD+ will be available to both players? It's not right to impose experimental changes and act like you're the boss. People trust you. You know a lot about programming, but you're far removed from setting tasks for online tournaments.

I find it very funny on this forum lately.
I read every few posts: "Make the second level buildable, just do it!", they did it, and now: "Oh, what a nightmare, why did you do that!", what the heck.

Honestly, there's no need to make fun of people. It might even create the impression that this was done specifically for the purpose of amusement. And there's no need to exaggerate, as we all remember and know what everyone said. And it's not that far off. But do you remember, and did you communicate with these people or others about how to do it better?

And? Will it be impossible to play?
I didn't even expect HD+ to be allowed in pure SoD tournaments, because it's already a slightly different game, and without changes to the initial city build order.

In principle, yes. It's already impossible to play, as I wrote above. HD+ was used for passwords, and Quick Battle... they haven't been able to fix it for seven years, and there wasn't a famine. Dear baratorch, if that's the case, then move the password system to HD, because it doesn't affect the gameplay. And do whatever you want with HD+. And impose whatever you want there.