I'll always love the original series best, but I completely see where you're coming from with this. I have yet to watch Strange New Worlds (I daresay my wife will subscribe to Paramount at some point - I don't really do streaming) but I love the idea of it and I've always loved the original configuration of the crew, as seen in The Menagerie with Captain Pike and Chapel as First Officer, etc. As you say, I think Roddenberry tried to be as progressive as he could with what he was permitted to do at the time. :)