I do like the classic art of Larry Elmore. I have several D&D editions. And artbooks.

But it would be disingenuous to not acknowledge the problems in D&D. Much like chainmail bikini vs the more covering armours that we see now.

You are painting dragons and orcs, but can imagine a black chevalier? Even after reading Otello? I mean, it is not about intentions, is about result. So regardless their reasons, we must move forward.

As for elves, well, the elves from the myths were quite different from the ones from Tolkien. His problematic past was known.

Don't assume that the critic is not valid just because you can find potential excuses for why they did it. Regardless their intentions, the result remains the same: It makes for a racist settings.

So we can acknowledge and move from that. Keep what is worth keeping and change what exclude people from our hobby. Is not that difficult.