And the answer that I found was “yes.” Muslims generally agreed that they could tax Zoroastrians, that Zoroastrians could exist in their empire and live side by side with them. But at the same time, Muslims generally agreed that they would not recognize Zoroastrians as “people of the book.”
Exactly. This is what I've heard too.
That there is conspicuous absence of mention of the Zend Avesta and Zarathushtra in the Quran.
Which is really weird, when you consider the history of the entire region, the world, and especially the Arabs for the past 5000 years before the birth of Islam.
It is obvious to me therefore that this omission is political and in no way or form divine.
Which then means that the Quran you guys follow today is not really the word of God transcribed by Muhammad's tongue as it is claimed to be.
But that it is carefully calibrated and written by those who sought to bury Zoroastrianism permanently.