Not sure if it makes a difference but Alarielle's beetle and Belthanos's grasshopper are actually magical sprite things rather than actual physical giant insects so don't think they really need rationale anatomy. Rule of cool rules, especially for magical beasts.
But I do like your thoughts and ideas.
If beast type people are going to be represented by a Kragnos faction then i think Sylvaneth won't be getting Kurnothi in the way I'd hope. But the plants and bugs theme is definitely a great way to go.
Also, replace the Wyldwoods with something scarier and angrier looking.
Dryads, if they do get a resculpt, will likely get a re-naming as well to a unique Games Workshop name. They may also just fade back to the old world as there is both Tree and Spite Revs as infantry.
Also not confident about Treelords staying in AoS, they are the other kit from WHFB with a non IP'd name.
Ok, so it turns out the countdown was for the wait to join the queue. Now I'm in the queue with the progress bar but no numeric estimate of wait time.
Edit: just realised the count down timer was until 10am local time.
Call me old fashioned, (and please don't just direct me to The Old World) but it's a shame there's not more cooperation between Orrucks and Grots in the Mortal Realms.
I'm surprised at the Branchwraith being removed. It's been for sale without rules for ages and I'd assumed it was waiting for transfer over to Wood Elves.
For Old World fans who don't read the AoS Rumour Thread:
For those don't know @Whitefang has an amazing track record and has (almost?) never been wrong with their hints and rumours.
I personally blame Tolkien, he was one of the first to take Space Elves and Space Dwarves and Space Wizards and Space Hobbits and Space Orks and Space Demonic Creatures from Warhammer 40,000 and shoehorn them into a fantasy setting.
Can't find it now, but I seem to remember seeing a rumour/rules leak that you can no longer ranged fire into melee. Do I remember correctly? And if so was it from a reliable source?
But the humies will be sold for Empire. If Dark Elves are removed from AoS there'll be nowhere for GW to sell those models while Dark Elves remain an unsupported Old World faction.
In my opinion, the some of the loveliest Dwarf models GW are doing right now are the Necromunda Squats. Really wish they'd done the Votann Kin the same.