I've been playing 2ed Dnd for quite a while now, even after 3ed came out. Honestly, even with friends who played 3.5 regularly, I always felt like a complete pillock every damn time I had to make a character for one of those games. It had a lot of variety, but that gigantic level of choice(especially in Feats) was rather intimidating to new players; it was as if a group of kids was getting to go to a swimming pool for the first time, only suddenly the pool is a lake and they're thrown into the middle of it with an encouraging fellow who's only advice was "Don't drown!"
That and I can't say how crippling it is to a session's playtime for a whole party to make their characters. This can take from two to four hours alone, as everyone has this nagging feeling that the feats they chose were crippling in some way, or useless later on. I honestly just could not get enough enthusiasm for this 'level of freedom' and honestly just went through the motions with 3.5 until we all gravitated back to 2ed House Rules.
Then, something awesome happened; 4ed came out, which I managed to find here, overseas. Skeptical as I was after 3.5, I was very impressed. Intuitive is the best word I can use to describe it; everything just feels like common sense. To be a character that feels useful to the party, I no longer have to 'Red Mage' through the splat books for rule loopholes and the like. The Min/Maxing that turned me away from 3.5 is not here; sure, it's a little more linear on creation, but I don't always have this sense of dread that I'm screwing up by choosing the wrong things. It feels like no matter what I chose, it was right.
I know some people don't like the 'limited' race selection, but I must be honest here; how often do you see a party member that isn't a Human, Elf, Half-Elf, Dwarf, or Hafling? Honestly, the only Gnomes I've ever encountered(two) was a walking joke and evoker and a walking racial slur/rape machine. Dragonborne and Tiefling being included in the PHB was nice of them, but it makes me frown when people say that they feel they HAVE to allow them to be playable; why?
If I don't like something, or find something that doesn't fit a campaign I'm writing, I come out and say "Yeah, no furries, alright?" and all is well. Actually, I always say no furries, but that's not the point here; if you don't like something, house rule it away, Mr. Dungeon Master.
Yet another gripe is the Destinies. As a Dungeon Master, it has always been my goal to find out what the player's true intentions and desires are, and tailor my adventures to include these things, and even lead to them towards the end. These Epic Destinies are just a way of stream lining this process, making my job easier; now I have classifcations and guides on how to get them there. I heard someone earlier complain that at level 30, the character goes poof and becomes a God... yet again, only if you, the DM, say so.
I'd probably reward a party that got to level 30 with a few God Awesome adventures; after all, can you imagine the world shattering impact of them facing off against some nameless and timeless evil in one of the last great battles of good/not aligned/not totally jerks vs Unquestionably Vile?
In closing, 4ed fits me like a glove, and I hate Mumorpuggers for the most part. It's the most user friendly PnP roleplay system I've ever played in, no one's character feels useless or inadequate when we play, and it's given me the inspiration to write a campaign for the first time in almost a year.
EDIT: On Racial Limitations on Classes
Oh for God's sake, did anyone really limit class selection due to Race? Talk about putting the rules against roleplaying! Only humans and elves were 'good enough' to be Paladins? Please, we always just thought that was a rule for... well, racists
