Well, I actually like it even more now that I've played it in several formats. At PAX we played dungeon delves (pregenned characters, it's a competition vs. the DM and the setting, so they try and kill you, it's all combat based), you can go as heavily combat/light roleplaying to no combat/all roleplaying as you want, which is something I remember fondly about 2nd ed. The rules didn't get in the way. I had all the charts memorized back in those days, but let's face it, they were daunting and losing the charts is probably a net win. And any DM who would allow it had a table full of Psionic Monks anyway, people like "powers" as in the "WOW-ified" stuff (that WOW didn't invent, but nevermind) that people seem to hate so much.

Now here's the cool part, at PAX I sat next to dozens of gaming "nerds" in various forms. I sat next to jock looking dudes, cheerleader looking gals, a father and his twelve year old daughter. And you know what? We could all play, even those with no experience could pick up several of the classes (not the mage, he was too important to not letting the party wipe) and feel like they knew how to play, because even the novices could explain it to them after a few games of their own.

Now some might call that shallow, and I can see their point, but to me that opens up the possibility to make the game much more about story, rather than the roleplaying being some minor story with the sole point of setting up a pitched, battle that would last all session. Also, as a DM I wouldn't sweat letting a drop in play at my table, because with a pre-written character they could play it and have fun.

Also, I like it when mages don't roll 1 HP at first level:)

Please, I don't mean to derail your thread, we can start a new one, as you had something you probably wanted to get out of this (beyond a 3.5 vs. 4 debate).