I'd like to know who started the private loot rumor/request

[MicroRNA-1507]

Here are some.

@MicroRNA-1507

JagatPlay: Interview with Blizzard (Diablo II: Resurrected)! - Aroged

A: Given that multiplayer co-op will be an important part of Diablo II: Resurrected in the future, will there be an option for gamers to get direct loot instead of having to fight over each other?

Mat: As Andre previously said, for now, we are only focused on remixing the best gaming experience that Diablo II can offer in its original form. Then of course, listen to gamers’ feedback before the final release.

https: //us.forums.blizzard.com/en/d3/t/screenshot-of-blizzard-survey/30125
The D2R accessibility blog post link
How We’re Making Diablo® II: Resurrected™ More Accessible to Everyone — Diablo II: Resurrected — Blizzard News

The quotes below are moreabout changes in general and listening to player feedback.

@MicroRNA-1507

Here are undeniable facts and statements that prove that Blizzard is considering balance changes if the players want them.

On March 7, this Blizzard interview was released and directly quote from
How Diablo 2: Resurrected is calling on the spirit of the original ARPG | PCGamesN

**Players have cheesy strategies and classes they’ve come to love over the years. Are you keeping those intact, or will the game receive a balance pass to give the lesser loved classes their time in the sun?**

**Chris Lena:** Yeah, we made a decision not to do balance changes right now, for the very reason that we want to make sure we deliver the authentic experience. Who knows what might happen in the future with feedback. I know our designers have a list of things they would love to do. So we’ll see how that goes going forward.

**How will Diablo 2: Resurrected be maintained once it releases? Will there be balance patches or updates to keep it fresh?**

**CL:** I think that conversation starts with the technical alpha and goes through to launch. It’s really about what players are looking for and what they want. We love this game – we’re remastering it 20 years later – so we would love to continue giving players what they want.

**CA:** Yeah, I think our focus is really to listen to the community and see what they say online, and then see where it goes from there.

Another Blizzard interview is directly quoted from:
Diablo 2: Resurrected’s single-player alpha starts this Friday | PCGamesN
Lena told us that the door is open for things like balance changes to help keep the game vibrant for a modern community – if, indeed, players indicate that they actually want that to happen.

We also know that Blizzard asked about introducing balance changes in BOTH of their D2R surveys. Of note, the second survey indicated that balance changes may be introduced after launch, suggesting that the duration of the multiplayer beta and release date is not terriibly relevant to whether balance changes are introduced post launch.

@BillyMaysed-1834

From literally DAY ONE of the announcement they repeated at least 48 times during the D2R deep dive that this was only a remaster, not a remake, and therefor would receive very little changes beyond minor QoL.

I think that this is incorrect. Please provide links to at least 48 times that Blizzard said no balance changes would occur and that the only changes would be completely restricted to graphics and QoL updates. I provided proof that Blizzard stated more than once that balance changes are under consideration. To my knowledge, Blizzard has never stated that they abandoned their prior comments about balance changes being possible if the players want them.

Even one quote where Blizzard explicitly said that there will never be balance changes in D2R would be nice to support your claim. To my knowledge, none exist.