Allright.
So Teldrassil burning was mostly because of the shock value, to show us the war is on for real this time. But let’s be honest, how relevant is it after that? There is one Warfront. And as far as lore goes, it’s got nothing on the loss of Lordaeron city, because let’s be real here, some tree that was planted and grown over a few years doesn’t not compare with the historical seat of the Alliance command from WC 2 to the events of WC 3, and going on to WoW with Sylvanas and the Forsaken making it their home, it really does not have the same lore value, note that I’ms saying nothing about sentimental values here, wich is the angle you seem to be arguing from.
However ;
Tyrande is still Tyrande, she vowed revenge and became the Night Warrior, no matter what some Blizz employees may have said about it, her story just developed and branched out, but she is still the leader the Night Elves look up too, and rightfully so, she did not abandon them after all and became the Night Warrior(However cheesy as it was).
Same goes for Malfurion, if anything, he’s no longer neutral and fully supportive of his people(let’s see how long that lasts though). Actually the whole Night Elf race just received a whole righteous boatload of anger and rage to truck on against the Horde, wich could mean several interresting possibilities for future stories.
The Darnassus problem is technically an easy fix, really. Give them a new fancy capitol and everything is allright, basicly.
Bottom line is, Teldrassil could not have burned and everything could’ve still went as it did, it’s impact on the overal story was not that much, nor did it add anything substantial.
Taurajo on the other hand, was one of Blizzard’s attempts to give the Shiny Alliance some grey streaks in Cataclysm, together with several other questlines in the Southern barrens, I mean, let’s be real here, if Blizzard wanted different, they could’ve just as easily had the Alliance soldiers march straight on through to Durotar, it was Garrosh that started that war(for good "Grey’ reasons, I may add), not the Tauren people.
So Taurajo got burned, but Blizzard backpedaled in the same go, it was whitewashed, the Commanding general was basicly a good chump that really didn’t mean to harm anyone(dumbass used convicted conscripts to pull off his operation, but w/e).
The Great Gate was besieged shortly after, but really, that questline was just held dead in the water, weren’t even any defenders on the wall for example, so yeah, again nothing done with that, even though it could;'ve been the tauren’s time to get some action, to solidify their place in the Horde against an unjust Alliance invasion.
And the worst part, unlike Tyrande mentioned above, Baine did…absolutly nothing, nada, didn’t even show up or mention anything…aside from the Book ; in which he just /shrugs it off, dashed all hopes for him ever being something remotely likable and respectable as far as faction leaders go, Baine clearly didn’t give two hoots about his people, and punishes those that wanted to fight back.
Clearly he saw the bigger picture right? Well, maybe Tyrande did too, since she supposedly had her revenge, but that’s…different? No see, Baine has been an unlikable character ever since and a large segment of the player base(not going into wether it’s a minority or majority, it is however a large group) hasn’t liked this character ever since, and it has only gotten worse over time, no matter how much people clamor about allot of people not giving two shtis about the story, this one was Always a given, he is unliked ever since Cataclysm, wich was supposed to be his time to shine.
So Taurajo’s aftermath basicly has left a very bad taste with allot of people ever since, it only served to worsen the Tauren as a race as slowly but surely they’re now all being depicted as Baine’s sheep, and if they’re not, they’re obviously EVUL!, That’s the narrative we’ve been left with since Cataclysm, a weak leader that goes out of his way to sabotage the Horde, versus Tyrande, the Night Warrior.
SO yes, Taurajo is worse from a story/ writing angle. And wether or not Thunder Bluff actually burns is irrelevant, it’s how it’s being handled that actually matters and so far it basicly falls flat on it’s face from the start, so no hope there,so far.
Oh and let’s see what General Hawthorne’s reasoning was to remove Taurajo ;
Smithing Facility.
Used to train Horde troops.
Con: Significant civilian population.
Darnassus?
Smithing facilities - Check.
Used to train Alliance troops - Check.
Con: Significant Civilian population - Check.
Seems it is technically the same deal on that part too, aside from it not being attacked out of nowhere, unsuspected.