Greetings!
Ahh. Well, is D&D 5E the best game edition ever? I don't know. 5E seems to be a stripped down version of 3E, and flexible and accessible. I can tweak and change things around, and make the system and the campaign run the way I prefer. I did the same thing with 3E, and D&D back in the day, with AD&D. So, there's nothing really new about that, to be honest. I'm also aware that not everyone is a hardcore grognard like myself. Lots of ordinary gamers just want to roll up a fantasy character and play. Wives, girlfriends, and assorted relatives are not likely to care one whit for all of the uber detail that we often discuss here. I've attempted to engage some with exploring more lore, different, older systems or mechanics, and the why of option A instead of option B--and they often giggle and look at me like a deer-in-headlights. Their eyes glaze over, I'm afraid. *laughing* Meanwhile, at two different local game stores--both have one or more nights per week scheduled for D&D games--everyone involved plays D&D 5E. When these people discuss bringing their kids or teenagers into the game, or their friends or wives or whatever--D&D 5E is always the game these other people are interested in learning and playing. No one is much interested in playing AD&D, let alone OD&D or something even more obscure. Forget Pathfinder, too. That seems to be the overwhelming dynamic in play.
I do like D&D 5E's simplicity, adaptability, and flexibility. There are many things that you can subtract and add to the game system, without breaking it and causing too many problems or difficulties. I add many OSR aspects to my own campaigns, and the game works just fine. Also like Nerzenjager's commentary about D&D 5E being the "Lingua Franca" of gaming is very true. The game has become mainstream, and many new people, perhaps especially women, find the game attractive and appealing. That doesn't just mean there is more women playing the game than ever before, it also means that *men* that are in the hobby do not face obstacles and hassles--but instead are met with encouragement and enthusiasm. That kind of heightened popularity and accessibility makes gaming easier and more fun for everyone.
Semper Fidelis,
SHARK