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It feels like a lot of the objections to this system seem to be based on literal interpretations of the backgrounds?
In most systems smithing is a broad enough skill to apply to leatherworking, tinkering, bowmaking, Fletching, etc. If your gm won't let you cross out the word "blacksmith" and write one of those other things, then I think any inflexibility is more in the gm than the system.
Additionally, I think any reasonable gm in a group where the expectation is that it's about story and roleplay will happily consider using the backgrounds as a guide to make ones specific to what a character needs - in 5e, the main utility of the backgrounds is to give examples for players who want to make their character quickly or need ideas, the players who want something more specific can just choose options that are appropriate instead of them dedicating 50 pages to fit every possible niche.
Really?
Cause I can tell you in 5e at least where I am I was told by the people running it "Sorry can't change backgrounds" at their Adventure League. I question what my local DMs will do for Society play.
"Sorry man it's not in the book or the one you want is from a book that's banned. So take X instead".
Why yes, this is a GM problem. But just saying "Get a better GM" shouldn't be a solution to everything.
Just fyi creating your own custom background is a core rule in 5e and Adventure league legal.
http://dndadventurersleague.org/faq-12-12/If your DM doesn't allow it thats on the DM not the system.
Similarly it would be nice if Paizo has custom backgrounds as a core rule in 2e.