jimbobslimbob: LOL. You know what, it's refreshing to talk to someone with an open mind, despite differences in opinion. For that, I thank-you.
As to the topic at hand, I can see where you are coming from, however from past experience (oh oh, assumptions abound...) modders have always seemed to favour moddb, nexus or whatever infront of the Steam workshop. Now I would wager this isn't 100% of the time, but I doubt modders would use the workshop as sole distribution for their mods, especially considering how things have been done in the past (and in the knowledge of how NWN works).
"Dividing the community" might be a bit of an overstretch in this regard... however, as it isn't out yet it's difficult to say exactly what will happen. I do however, feel confident that NWN modders understand that the Steam workshop doesn't account for all users and would therefore want their mods to be as accessible as possible - hence hosting them on other sources - like the new vault - as well.
Only out of differences something better can arrive, essential is only to share the ideas behind it ;)
So no reason to thank me ;)
Yes, in the moment it is all about assumptions. Unfortunate, really, I do not remember which game it was anymore, I do remember I have it on GOG and tried to find a patch for it, just to find out, only on steamworkshop. On problem with it is, that ONLY the moder creating it, can really put it somewhere else (copyright). So if this moder is to lazy or whatever, it will be lost. In the other case, somebody else could have picked it up (even without steam) creating another version of it and making this available.
One thing I know for sure, people are lazy (yes I do include myself :D ), hence a good percentage will already be lost just out of this reason (maeh...doing it again on moddb/nexus....naeh....).
Another factor for my 'fear' is another one. A lot of the older generations, which enjoyed this gem were raised with different behaviour for this. (The following is an assumption In general speaking based on my obversations) The younger generations seem to be superficial for a lot of things, including the simple fact that there is something else but Steam (or whatever app they are using as well). Why I do not know. Taking this into account .....see above ;)
I THINK that GOG is the place (also younger audience) were those still reside, willing to go beyond, but look at the success of steam, ah, just one click away (again laziness;) ), no work.....no extra search and so on.
And now truthfully do you still think (extra said think, not believe ;) ) that steamworkshop will not cause problems?
So WHY did the devs do go down this route? (Already just by suggestion it.) As on the other hand all major mods are outside of it. Shall make you think twice, or?
Sorry for the long reply ;)