The advantage of getting the basic system in place that allows for the 1-hour adventure is that (just like with modular design) it is much easier to add stuff to the basics to expand it, than it is to try and strip things away to condense it.
Yes, 3E and 4E can be built and run in such a way to reach the 1-hour goal... but it's not something that occurs naturally through normal gameplay. The DM really has to work at it, and the players have to be on their game to help accomplish it. So using that as a benchmark is probably not the best foundation on which to build.
Start small and simple. And believe me... once you then layer in the tactical miniatures module and the "martial exploits" module... that 1-hour adventure will swell to a 3-hour adventure easy.
Yes, 3E and 4E can be built and run in such a way to reach the 1-hour goal... but it's not something that occurs naturally through normal gameplay. The DM really has to work at it, and the players have to be on their game to help accomplish it. So using that as a benchmark is probably not the best foundation on which to build.
Start small and simple. And believe me... once you then layer in the tactical miniatures module and the "martial exploits" module... that 1-hour adventure will swell to a 3-hour adventure easy.