The Fighter-Cricket
Explorer
I like most of the analysis that is discussed here. Pretty spot on.
Just to add my perspective: 4E "feels" for me like a healthy breed of classical rpg and a board game. It has a rpg's dynamic and storytelling and the structure and clarity of a well designed board game. This is exactly what I want from an tabletop rpg (at least most of the time). I would also heartily agree to Manbearcat's two points. The things that 4E encourages you to do feel important. Your PC is not unlike any other inhabitant of the world. He/she is destined to leave a mark on the world. I like that. And as a last point: Through the game's mechanics (synergies in powers etc.) many things the PCs do feel like a team effort. That's very important to me (as player and as DM).
Just to add my perspective: 4E "feels" for me like a healthy breed of classical rpg and a board game. It has a rpg's dynamic and storytelling and the structure and clarity of a well designed board game. This is exactly what I want from an tabletop rpg (at least most of the time). I would also heartily agree to Manbearcat's two points. The things that 4E encourages you to do feel important. Your PC is not unlike any other inhabitant of the world. He/she is destined to leave a mark on the world. I like that. And as a last point: Through the game's mechanics (synergies in powers etc.) many things the PCs do feel like a team effort. That's very important to me (as player and as DM).