Is it really? The basis of the Dota you are familiar with is not the original and even then creative control of that particular incarnation has changed hands since it's own creation (not that Dota is all that original, it started as just another AoS/ Hero Wars clone). Eul is the original creator meanwhile Guinsoo started Dota Allstars. The version you play has gone through serious overhauls thanks to Ice Frog who is currently the one maintaining it. With that in mind would it be so bad to view HoN as yet another incarnation? Or am I not getting why you think this is disgusting?
it kind of is yeah. let's just say that it has to do with the minimal creative direction this company has right now - the heroes are different, yes, and there will propably be more maps (at least they TRY to get people play other maps/modes but welp since it's DOTA FANBASE
shrug) but it's still kind of disgusting since it's about miming the original game's motor, gameplay and premise the best they can. Demigod tried to do something new about this or at least RESHAPE/make a completely new game around the premise even though they weren't so succesful! it doesn't help that the first map is COMPLETELY remade to the game up to most minor details (why not even change the environment, that's like the easiest thing to do on the design side!)
however i don't feel like arguing about this since i suspect nobody (you or me or anybody else) will agree on anything so it's kind of useless.
READ i don't want to argue since you are a hc fan/player and obviously like it so we won't propably find any agreeament!!
