Not sure how standard tuning evolved (probably from classical), but I've heard it said that "standard" tuning is not the dominant tuning worldwide. There are apparently more guitarists using "alternate" tunings than standard, and no single tuning dominates.
If chording is your thing, then standard tuning is the place to be, but re-tuning opens up the range of the instrument and makes a lot more possible than would be in standard, especially in fingerstyle.
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