I've played lots of roleplaying games. I never did understand the obsession with "game balance". The thief isn't as good at fighting as the fighter. The fighter isn't as sneaky as the thief. It's all in how you play. If something actually does disrupt the game, a decent DM should be able to handle it in a creative way.
I thing overemphasizing balance issues leads to one conclusion: A game that doesn't feel like D&D.
