Good thoughts here.. one thing I'd like to say about the shift of power from the GM to the players.. I've been playing since redbox in the '80s, and switched and played all the editions. Yeah player knows what he can and can't do numbers wise, but as the GM its my world, so what's standard is not always standard in my world. Just like monsters, just because the book lists them as X and Y doesn't mean mine are that as well. This is how I keep vets in the dark and they have a great time playing. I am VERY upfront about all this to my players, and tell them if they don't like this rule we can play another game or they can run the game and I'll play. BUT they make me run, so I run the game that fits my story and my world. No one has ever complained or ever left in a huff to cry in the corner.