As a fellow eu4 fan, I'm nearly certain they've removed 1444 start date solely to sell it back as DLC. They've done similarly in crusader Kings, and I don't doubt it's their plan here too. Also I agree wholeheartedly about your Victoria 3 experience. The game is so focused on its economy system, which is ironically less authentic than what was there in Victoria 2, all while every other aspect of the game was gutted out for rng based dice rolls. I can somewhat understand this for warfare (although the system is still atrocious), but the way you changed your laws by incrementally and endlessly rolling events in your parliament or whatever was mind numbing to the point it's what put me off the game and modern paradox for good.

Also @Conselheiro@lemmygrad.ml is totally right about creamapi, must have for EU4 particularly.