However, the update marked the moment Minecraft became "modern." 1.14.4 texture packs are the historical record of the community adapting to the biggest visual shift in the game's history.
The "long story" is that 1.14.4 was the version where players either embraced the new, softer Minecraft look or fought back with texture packs to keep the gritty, old-school vibe while keeping the modern blocks. 1.14.4 texture packs
It sounds like you are looking for the backstory on why are such a significant, and sometimes confusing, topic in the community. However, the update marked the moment Minecraft became
Why are you searching for this specific version now? The "Long Story" usually ends here: and sometimes confusing