[m0nastic]

For what it's worth, the second edition of How To Design Programs drops the imperative programming[1] and is available online[2].

I can't comment about the pandering though.

[1] "This edition of the book drops the design of imperative programs. The old chapters remain available on-line"

[2] http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/HtDP2e/Draft/index.html

[spacemanaki]

Is that just the first few chapters of the 2nd ed?

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/matthias/HtDP2e/Draft/i1-2.html

Many chapters after that one are just blank.

[m0nastic]

Yeah, I'm not sure. That's the "unstable" version, and it looks like some of the chapter's are missing (everything after part 6).