Thomas Eakins' powerful style and his choices of subject-the advances in modern surgery, the discipline of sport, the strains of individuals in tension with society or even with themselves-was as disturbing to his own time as it is compelling for ours.

(A) was as disturbing to his own time as it is
(B) were as disturbing to his own time as they are
(C) has been as disturbing in his own time as they are
(D) had been as disturbing in his own time as it was
(E) have been as disturbing in his own time as

OA-B

[spoiler]Eliminate A,C since they refer to a singular subject but indeed we have a plural subject.
Eliminate E since "Have Been" refers to an action started in past and still continuing while in his own time is something which happened in the past and not continuing anymore.
Elimiate D since it refers to a singular subject while we have a plural subject.[/spoiler]

My question is if I change choice D to "had been as disturbing in his own time as they were", does this answer choice become right ?

Thanks in advance,
kdraj