Yankel,
The common understanding of the Gemara is NOT that there were to separate takanos, and not that lighting indoors was ever a bracha l’vatala.
Can you give me a source that lighting indoors was ever a bracha l’vatala?
The regular understanding of the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch is that Chazal decided that it’s a mitzvah to light menorah outdoors, but indoors also counts, and should only be done in excruciating circumstances.
This whole idea of two separate takanos, where first it was only allowed outdoors, then it was modified to be allowed indoors in danger which really means always – is mentioned as a svara very rarely , and by only by some latest achronim (based on my findings. I found two achronim who lived recently who wrote this).
All those who mention fear of thieves or mockery etc. are NOT saying that it’s the best thing. They are giving various svaros why you would have a heter to light indoors, thus lacking the main way of doing the mitzvah. They say “If you are afraid.”
This is the simple understanding of the Gemara, Shulchan Aruch and most poskim.
If you disagree with all of this, show me that this modification idea is mainstream in rishonim and achronim. I’ll wait.
This is simple to any aspiring [but solid] beginner .
But if you know how to learn, you realize that it’s really much more complicated, and a farely recent chiddush.
Hazal write – originally takana is only outdoors
Then they write – sakana indoors too .
It doesn’t say this in Chazal. It doesn’t say בראשונה… תיקנו.
If – at the original stage , outdoors is a bracha levatala
Find me a source that indoors originally it was a bracha l’vatala and now it’s not.
P.S. Just in case you still don’t understand: I’m not saying that we should all light outdoors (I don’t).
I’m just giving an example of where Shulchan Aruch says one thing, the minhag developed differently, everyone struggles with explaining the reasons, some give various examples of leniency, some give esoteric reasons – and now you’ll alow people to be *machmir* and have a specific minhag to light indoors, without demanding they fit all those heterim.