Think of what was happening at the time, FK. The Assumption was defined in 1950 - right after World War 2 and during the time frame of the beginning of the Cold War. The philosophies in opposition to the Church at the time was totalitarianism, communism, and facsisism. Each of these taught that man was of little consequence. The Church's teachings from day one taught something else - they taught that man was a dignified creation (unlike what some "reformers" taught). The Church has taught that man is created in the image of God and has a particular destiny in store. Mary is the pioneer of this destiny. Being fully and entirely human and human alone, we can look to her and hold out the hope and belief that we, too, will share in the glory that she shares in today.
This is the reasoning and the timing of the Doctrine of the Assumption. It is the alternate message to what we hear today from our society - even now, where man is merely a cog in the big wheel of society - and if he becomes incapacitated or can no longer produce widgets, he becomes worthless as a cog. He becomes disposable. The Church continues to refute that idea and philosophy with the Doctrine of the Assumption. We believe that the Spirit inspired the Church to define this doctrine at that specific time - to express her beliefs and to refute those of the world.
Regards
Why not look to Enoch, or Elijah. They are actually written about in Scripture being taken home to the LORD without suffering death? Why the creation of these doctrines that are not found in Scripture?
When I think of a pioneer I think of a great leader, someone who finds or teaches a new thing. Many times such wind up being martyred, like almost all of the Apostles. I don't see any of these things in Mary. However, I suppose I could understand a label of pioneer if one believed she was sinless.
This is the reasoning and the timing of the Doctrine of the Assumption. It is the alternate message to what we hear today from our society - even now, where man is merely a cog in the big wheel of society ...
But what is the connection between the Assumption and man's dignity? None of us are eligible for sinlessness by the time we hear of the concept, and none of us will be assumed. I don't see what the Assumption "adds".