I also posted this over at RPGNet:
Great post Neonchameleon!
So far (and I know its early days yet) I have seen nothing from 5E to suggest its as good as 4E...let alone better.
4E has (or has had) a few problems but most were easily resolvable:
1. Rules Bloat: I think in particular the individual classes REALLY take up far too much space.
Solution:
http://eternitypublishing.wordpress....ed-4e-fighter/
2. Lack of Identity for the higher Tiers: The higher tiers are just more of the same with more math, when they needed to add elements like mass combat, running a stronghold, gigantic monsters, politics, running a country, becoming a religion/immortal.
Solution: Use these ideas as the backbone for new books instead of "Fighter Book 4".
3. The Game System License: Slightly improved now, but the initial GSL for 4E really isolated the third party companies and caused the schism that is Pathfinder.
Solution: To be honest I'm not sure. Maybe the damage is already done. Maybe they just need to rebrand/repackage 4E (4.5E?) to remove the stigmatism. I suspect that no matter how good 5E is, that a large chunk of people will still be playing Pathfinder and 4E respectively.
4. Too Combat Centric: Don’t get me wrong, I love RPG combat/tactical play and 4E is the best system for that. But after reading Revenge of the Iron Lich it was clear that other 4E products (adventures in particular) really ignored the exploration and puzzle side of the game.
Solution: I think WotC have already made strides in this area with adventures/products like the Madness at Gardmore Abbey. Although I don't think every adventure needs to be a mega-adventure.
5. Underwhelming Products: While 4E had its share of gems (Dungeon Delves, Open Grave, Draconomicon, Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting among others) too many of the books were all too familiar and pretty lacklustre efforts. I can’t remember the last time I really got excited by a 4E release.
Solution: Come up with some new ideas for books rather than a schedule dominated by either a) retreads of books I already have for every past edition, or b) rules bloating class books.
Obviously WotC sees 5E as the solution. But maybe they should have had a bit more of a think about how they could improve upon 4E first...?