That it's set in the Prime Universe, which contains TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, ST I-X and now DISCO.
Why this is such a difficult concept to understand for some is beyond me.![]()
This; exactly this.
If Star Trek were being created today, with absolutely no pre-existing media in a set universe, then its rather obvious that it would not look like 60's Trek because that is not what contemporary audiences would think of as being 'futuristic'.
Darwin's theory of evolution applies to TV and Movies as well as isolated life on tropical and sub-tropical islands. Adapt or die. Trek either adapts to today's audience or it dies, simple as.