I was the DM. Matt is used to playing very complex characters and loves having a lot of options. Matt is not the target for the most basic, mundane, straight-forward 4e class created ever.
As expressed in many WOTC interviews, essentials fighter is for people who miss the 1e, 2e, 3e "I hit stuff" fighters... come on, you know the people in your group who played fighters and thieves in previous editions even though 1,2,3e spell-casters were provably better in all ways at high levels... Cleric Find Traps > Rogue, Cleric Divine Power > Fighter, Wizard Mobility > martial athletics...