That's the biggest problem, though. CBS and the showrunner maintain that it isn't. This is exactly the same setting as was watched back in the '60s, according to them. Any inconsistencies you just have to ignore. Rather than a respectful "Trials and Tribble-ations" approach, they're "updating" everything they felt should be this or that way, regardless of the impact on continuity, since apparently the structural integrity of the fictional universe they have the privilege of playing around in is less important than their artistic whimsy.
Enterprise, Discovery, and Picard maintain the same, despite also not fitting with prior established material. It is absolutely an AU. If they'd just own that, 60% of my problems with all of those would vanish.
...But there'd still be the bad writing characterization and set design and set lighting and so on and so on. I'm glad you like the stories, filtered through your headcanon. I don't, objectively and subjectively, and am still baffled by those that do. Especially long-time Trek fans. Why I have stayed mostly mum. I say my piece, and then try to let people enjoy things.
