It depends on how you look at it. Wordle is just an online implementation of the game "Lingo", after all. You could argue that Lingo is a letter implementation of Mastermind.
When building a new word grid game, would you take Wordfeud's rules over Scravble's? I don't think I would.
I see your point. But calling it a "Wordle clone" implies it follows the same rules. If you want to change the rules, call it "inspired by Wordle" or something similar.
When building a new word grid game, would you take Wordfeud's rules over Scravble's? I don't think I would.