Have you checked out the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game?
You should have a look at Swords and Wizardry. It's not very 3.5ish but it meets most of your criteria.
There is already a product you are looking for: the Pathfinder Beginner Box. It's a streamlined version of the game and it's easy to jump into.
Having said that, I've introduced 3 people now to roleplaying games and Pathfinder in particular, and none of their heads exploded and they still play. It's not that hard and the complex rules are actually CHOICES you make for your character, not rules of the game.
2 cents.
What I want is an RPG that is:
1) Clearly a D&D/Pathfinder/OGL-style game (the six attributes, and so forth)
2) The complete game fits in a small, thin book.
3) Supported with a line of quality adventures (that's why I like Pathfinder). Entirely adventure-driven...I don't especially want a setting...just adventures.
4) As streamlined as the D&D Next Basic rules I've been hearing about (attribute checks, no skills, no feats)
It sounds as if what you are looking for is BECMI-era D&D. It has all of these qualities. You can pick up the Rules Cyclopedia at RPG Now, or you can go for the retro-clone of your choice, including Swords and Wizardry.
4e, or The Pathfinder Beginner box.
/shakes head
You could try the Radiance Rpg. Its similar to pathfinder with some mechanics from other games mixed in. Its a lot less complicated than pf. You can run a character from 1-20 and only really need about 4-5 pages from the book.
It doesnt have an adventure line like pf but the players guide is free in pdf form so worth a look.
Sounds like you want BECMI. They have recently added the rules cyclopedia to RPGnow.com. For one that adds AD&D syle classes I can recommend this one.
Adventurer Conquer King (ACKs)
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/99123/Adventurer-Conqueror-King-System
It is kind of like a Pathfinder of BECMI rules and only goes to level 14. We have been using it to run the Temple of Elemental Evil.It is only $10 as well for the PDF and it is my other choice atm instead of PF when I am burned out of 3.x mechanics.
Its not super thin, but Legend by Rule of Cool streamlines many aspects of 3.5/PF. There's only one adventure at current, but more are planned as part of donation goals.
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Since you like boardgames have you ever considered looking into Decent or any of the D&D boardgames out there right now? Maybe even hit ebay for an old copy of Heroquest.
TTRPGs tend to be complex its the nature of the beast. D&D:Next is supposed to have a super streamlined version out of the box but you are looking at least a year before that launches. You could try and limit the game after the beginners box to the core rule book. Also, take a look at E6. Its a version of 3E that stops at 6th level. You just gain feats after that. Keeps the game simpler but you may find using the adventure paths tedious to convert to lower levels.
