despite those last two points it's not like oz was Shallow either. the first book esp always had an aspect of social commentary + baum was close to his suffragette mother-in-law + he already had the idea that witches Could be good, not just bad. i think he'd be fine with what wicked has going on.

the man a) loved theatre more than anything else, b) took WILD liberties with the theatrical adaptations of his own books, c) did Not care about continuity or plot holes, d) was all about Securing The Bag, and e) was all about Making The Child Audience Happy. he would have loved wicked.