“The big difference is,…”
Yes I understand the difference as I noted above.
Though you highlight my point. clearly groups chnaged over the years. Chassidim is amore recent chnage than the others you mention.
Are you sayiong that when a historian uncovers wh oand when the yekish mesauroh began he cna replace it by the older one?
“Any changes in Tefilla or hanhogos in mitzvos which were initiated by the chassidim, were mainly, if not totally, al pi sod (Kabbalistic), and were not practiced by the tzibbur at the time of the rishonim ”
Obviously
and Any changes in Tefilla or hanhogos in mitzvos which were initiated by the rishonim, were not practiced by the tzibbur at the time of the geonim
and Any changes in Tefilla or hanhogos in mitzvos which were initiated by the geonim, were not practiced by the tzibbur at the time of the Amoraim
etc etc
How long does a mesora have to exist before youd feel queezy about chnaging it?
I admit I’m not sure of my answer either.