I am sure this comes partly from me dipping into so many different fantasy stories, and sheer exposure highlights the flaws more than people who just read a reasonable amount, but it does feel like so many authors are just... lacking in imagination.
Instead of making any sort of attempt at doing something novel with the concept of a magic-based society, in a completely different world, the vast majority just fall back on the same old tropes.
A few actually manage to turn it into a vessel for a decent story, and I understand the impulse to fall back on the familiar in order to focus on other things, but if there was at least a handful of them that tried something different, that would be enough. Instead everything starts to feel the same.
I wish more people had the imagination, determination, and courage to explore the idea of different social systems, and dynamics.
It also bugs me how limited the exploration of what magic can do often is. Even the ones that go further than most feel like they have certain lines they refuse to cross. Or perhaps they never even consider them in the first place.
For instance:
How many times have I seen a story use the idea of magic that lets same-sex people conceive children?
Hm... let me think... ah, that's right. Exactly zero.