First Person Present Tense Minefields???

Two very, very contrasting experiences this week - and could do with a little perspective.

One - I got my book (novel 1) back from editor this week. She was so warm and encouraging, even as she pointed out all the places where the book needs some help. I felt really seen, supported, uplifted and ready to launch into the rewriting/redrafting.

Two - I spoke with a former classmate of mine. He’s now a major big (BIG!) name author. In a VERY different genre (thriller-spy), and he just about had an apoplectic fit when I said mine was written in first person present tense (main protagonist), and third person present tense (other character POVs). I must admit I felt totally mansplained. And…I also don’t want to reflexively dismiss concerns if they are valid.

My editor had no issue with 1st person present tense. Nor did all but one of my 9 beta readers. And my real Timothy raised no objections. The one who did is not my Timothy, and from a little internet research I came to the conclusion that yes, 1st person present tense is just not going to work for some readers, and that’s ok, if they’re not your readers/audience.

Big name friend was saying it’s pretty much only Young Adult where this works. And that no publishing house would want to pick it up given this + my genre (literary fiction/ historical fiction). As I’m NOT looking to/trying to go that route I’m trying to place his feedback in context.

So coming here for some others perspectives. As I said, I don’t want to reflexively dismiss something just because I felt mansplained to. But it would majorly change the entire emotional feel of the book to shift it to past tense, and not in a way that feels in integrity with the experience of the main protagonist.

So, thoughts? What should I be aware of if I continue with the 1st person, present tense approach - other than the obvious (and my editor pointed out the places where I “head hop”) of keeping it as the protagonist would experience it in the moment and not slip into “omniscience”.