1- concert pitch A440 was only standardised in the latter part of the 20th century.
2- D major has only 2 sharps compared to 4 in E major and C has none!
I personally believe that one should not use keys with more than two sharps or flats in the key signature. Otherwise it puts off beginner organists.
Remember the infamous Widor key of F sharp. He seemed to like that key, but it can be a bit harder to play. Maybe it fit his fingers better.
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